Grafton County, New Hampshire State Court Records
Grafton County court records are official documents generated or collected during the course of judicial proceedings in the local county courts. The Grafton County Superior Court and Circuit Court divisions maintain court records in the county. The record custodian maintaining court records in the county is the county clerk of court.
Court records are related to other public records such as arrest records and vital records. Arrest records constitute court records as the case progresses to trial. The New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A) and secondary judicial branch rules govern access to court records in the county.
Are Grafton County Court Records Public?
Yes. According to New Hampshire's Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A), court records are generally classified as public. This law, along with judicial branch rules, helps maintain transparency for public government records by allowing open access to them, with some exemptions for sensitive records. Access to these records requires confidentiality and is typically granted by judicial order from the NH Judicial Branch. The NH Judicial Branch provides the public with pathways to lawfully inspect these records in person at their office and online through the NH Judicial Branch Public Access.
Examples of records that are confidential and are exempted from unauthorized public access include the following:
- Juvenile case files
- sealed records or expunged records
- records with sensitive personal data (victim information, health records)
- Records of ongoing criminal investigations
What Information is Available in Grafton County Court Records?
Grafton court records typically contain case-related documents, including the following:
- Case filings
- Pleadings
- Court calendars and dockets
- Case summaries
- Motions
- Warrants
- Case judgments and sentence orders
- Decrees
- Transcripts
- Probate documents
- Appeal documents
Grafton County Court Records Search
Individuals looking to locate Grafton County can perform a records search using three main pathways: online, in-person, and by mail or phone requests.
Online Access
The New Hampshire Judicial Branch provides the Case Access Portal, a statewide search tool for finding court records online. A search can be conducted using keywords like party name, case number, date of birth, or case filing date. The tool covers records from the superior court (felony, civil, and major cases) and circuit court divisions (family, probate, and district).
In-Person Access
Grafton County has the Grafton County Superior Court and Circuit Court divisions that allow individuals to perform record searches in person during their business hours. Public terminals are available for them to search themselves, and admin staff is available to assist with locating case files.
Mail and Phone Requests
To request records by mail, individuals can submit a mail request to the clerk of court's office specifying the case number, party name, or type of court record sought. Payment is required for extensive searches and to certify the record. The mailing address of the court is as follows:
Grafton County Superior Court,
3785 Dartmouth College Highway,
North Haverhill, NH 03774.
IDs are generally not required for online searches and general searches but may be required at the discretion of the record custodian for in-person and mail requests. Payment is by credit card or money order, as cash is not allowed by mail. There is no residency restriction to accessing court records. Individuals who are not residents of Grafton County can also access its court records. They can also call 855 212-1234 (NH Judicial Branch central line) to make a mail request for a record. Court records are, however, not received over the phone, so only a confirmation of the record can be obtained in person.
Fees for Court Records in Grafton County
It is free to use the public terminals at the courthouse or clerk's office to look up court records via the Case Access Portal, but fees apply when copies of the records are requested. This is to compensate for staff time and search processing as allowed by the New Hampshire Judicial Branch statewide fee schedule.
The cost to make copies of court records is $0.50 per page and $10.00 for certificates and certified copies. Grafton County also charges $6.50 per name for record searches (criminal or civil) in research fees, with an additional $25.00 per hour to be paid if the search lasts longer than an hour. Payment can be made by credit card, but service charges may be included.
Grafton County Courthouse Locations
The courthouses in Grafton County and their contact information are as follows:
Grafton County Superior Court (Haverhill District Division)
3785 Dartmouth College Highway,
North Haverhill, NH 03774
Phone: (855) 212-1234 (or 603-415-0162 internationally)
Lebanon District Division
38 Centerra Parkway,
Lebanon, NH 03766
Phone: (855) 212-1234
Littleton District Division
134 Main Street,
Littleton, NH 03561
Phone: (855) 212-1234
Plymouth District Division
26 Green Street
Plymouth, NH 03264
Phone: (855) 212-1234
Criminal Records Access in Grafton County
Grafton County courts do not handle state-level official criminal history checks. The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of State Police's Criminal Records Unit maintains and disseminates statewide criminal record information as governed by the Criminal History Record Information Act (RSA 106-B:14).
Interested individuals can request their own criminal history, while interested agencies (landlords, employers, examination bodies) can request a background check with proper authorization. Grafton County courts only maintain case records of proceedings that occurred locally (within the county) and make them accessible through the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Case Access Portal or at the courthouse.
Grafton County Probate Records
Probate cases in Grafton County are heard in the Probate Division of the 2nd Circuit Court. The court has jurisdiction over probate matters, including those concerning wills, trusts and estates, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes. Records of these cases may be obtained by visiting the Circuit Court during business hours or contacting the clerk's office at (855) 212-1234. Non-confidential probate court records are also available online via the case access portal.
Grafton County Family Court Records
The New Hampshire Judicial Branch serves as the custodian of family court records in Grafton County. Access to these records, however, depends on the type of family court case it is. Divorce, custody, and support court records are generally public, but adoption and other sensitive family court records are restricted from unauthorized access. Family court records can be accessed online through the NH Judicial Branch Case Access Portal or in person at the Family Division courthouses in Grafton County. Certified copies of family court records are available for $10 per certification from the Clerk of Court at the relevant Family Division.
Federal Court Records in Grafton County
Federal court records and county or state court records are handled differently. The United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire documents proceedings over federal cases in Grafton County. Examples of these federal matters include civil rights cases, federal criminal prosecutions, bankruptcy, immigration, and any case governed by federal law. PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) gives nationwide online access to federal court documents, but a subscription is needed. In-person federal records are available with the case information office or bankruptcy court in the District of New Hampshire, depending on the case type.
