Hillsborough County was established in 1769 and is currently the most populous county in New Hampshire. A report from the US Census Bureau shows that the county occupies a total land area of 876 square miles. Hillsborough is home to more than 422,000 persons. Its county seats are the cities of Nashua and Manchester.

Courts in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County has two Superior Courts: one located in Manchester and the other in Nashua. The apex courts have exclusive jurisdiction over felony-related crimes and other offenses requiring jury trials. Civil lawsuits involving more than $1,500 in monetary disputes are within the court’s jurisdiction, provided they require jury trials. Other civil matters brought before the Superior Courts in Hillsborough include child custody, divorce, domestic violence, foreclosure cases, and breach of contract cases.

The 6 Circuit Court District Divisions in Hillsborough County have limited jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases. These courts typically preside over misdemeanor and other criminal matters that do not require jury trials. Residents also approach District Division courts to resolve small claims matters below $1,500, landlord-tenant, stalking, firearm license appeals, and land use violations.

The Circuit Court Probate Division in Hillsborough exercises exclusive jurisdiction over termination of parental rights, probate of wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. Probate cases that require juries are automatically referred to the Superior Court. Juvenile cases, marriage annulment, divorce, child custody, and child abuse/neglect cases are exclusive to any of the 6 Hillsborough County Family Divisions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Hillsborough County

Public court records in Hillsborough County are accessible through New Hampshire’s Case Access Portal. Requesters must complete the free registration process on the online platform before viewing public court records. Court documents that are not on the statewide repository may be obtainable by visiting the clerk of the presiding court. Generally, each court in Hillsborough County assigns a court clerk tasked with storing and maintaining the following public court records:

• Court transcripts
• Dockets
• Evidence and Exhibits; submitted during the trial
• Names of involved parties in civil cases
• Names of defendants/offenders and prosecutors in criminal cases
• Jury lists
• Depositions
• Summons and subpoenas
• Sentencing information

Types of Public Court Records in Hillsborough County

Record seekers can find the following public court records in Hillsborough County:

• Criminal records
• Civil court records
• Family court records
• Probate records
• Traffic court records
• Small claims court records

Confidential Court Records in Hillsborough County

According to New Hampshire laws, confidential court records in Hillsborough County include all documents sealed by court orders or confidential under federal/state laws. Confidential records also contain information that may negatively impact individuals’ privacy and financial interests. Examples of these confidential information include the following:

• Juvenile and adoption records
• Mental health records
• Medical history records
• Financial information such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs)
• Personal identifying information such as date of birth, driver’s license numbers, and Social Security numbers
• Victim identity information
• Grand jury records
• Trade secrets

Juvenile Delinquency in Hillsborough, NH

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Hillsborough County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in New Hampshire often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2008, a total of 597 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hillsborough County. Of that total, 0% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1 court cases. Another 44% were dependency cases that accounted for 265 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Hillsborough County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Hillsborough County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Hillsborough County, NH

https://www.nh.gov/

County Seat:	Manchester and Nashua
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1769
Total Square Miles:	892
2019 Population:	409,697
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	329 Mast Rd County Courthouse Goffstown , NH 03045-2430 http://www.hillsboroughcountynh.org/

Hillsborough County, NH Courts