Rockingham County
Incorporated in 1771, Rockingham County is located in the southeastern region of New Hampshire. It is the state's second-most populous county with a population of 320,689 people and Brentwood is its county seat. Rockingham County serves as the location of the state's Atlantic coastline and has Maine on its northeastern border, while Massachusetts lies on its southern boundary.
The trial courts within the Rockingham County court system include a superior court and a circuit court. Rockingham County Superior Court, which is a general jurisdiction court, hears civil and criminal cases, including felonies, civil claims exceeding $25,000, contract enforcements, injunctive relief, negligence, real property title disputes, and small claims for $1,500 where jury trials are requested. It also has appellate jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases from the Circuit Court District Division.
The Circuit Court, which comprises a District Court Division, a Probate Court Division, and a Family Court Division, exercises limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. The Circuit Court District Division handles cases involving misdemeanors, traffic infractions, stalking, and certain civil cases, including small claims, landlord-tenant matters, and Involuntary Emergency Admissions (IEAs), among others. The Circuit Court Family Division oversees cases relating to family and children, including divorce, certain adoptions, children in need of services, parental rights termination, juvenile delinquency, child support, minors' guardianship, and domestic violence petitions. In contrast, the Circuit Court Probate Division hears probate of wills, estates administrations, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, name changes, equity suits, and involuntary commitments.
Rockingham County court records are recorded details of court case proceedings in either civil or criminal litigations in the county. The clerks of the trial courts where the cases are heard create these records and make them publicly available upon request. Docket entries, motions and pleadings, notices, minutes, summons, court orders, and judgments are typical court record contents. Rockingham County court records, which are generally maintained in paper or digital formats, include the following:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Juvenile records
- Family court records
The Rockingham County Clerks of the Superior Court and Circuit Court maintain and manage court records. Requesters can access court records online using the state's case search portal. They can also visit the Superior or Circuit Courthouse where their cases were tried to examine and copy their records in person.
