How to Search Rockingham County Court Records
Rockingham County court records are searched through the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Case Access Portal. The portal is statewide. It covers Rockingham Superior Court and the 10th Circuit Court's District, Family, and Probate Divisions. The Judicial Branch Self-Represented Litigant guide says public users get free Smart Search access. Parties and attorneys can ask for elevated access tied to a specific case after a short E-Filing Center review.
Before you start, gather what you can. A case number speeds the search. A party name works too. The portal accepts case numbers without dashes or leading zeros. The court-code prefix can help: Rockingham Superior uses 218, Rockingham Probate uses 318, and Circuit District/Family Division locations use codes like Brentwood 435, Candia 422, Derry 431, Hampton 441, Portsmouth 470, and Salem 473.
- Open the New Hampshire Case Access Portal in your browser.
- Click "Register/Sign In" at the top right and create a free account if you want elevated access. Activate the account from the email link, then log in.
- Select "Smart Search" from the bottom of the home page.
- Type a case number, party name, or attorney name. You can omit dashes and leading zeros from a case number.
- Click "Advanced Filtering Options" and set "Filter by Location" to Superior Courts for a Superior Court case, or to the right Circuit Court location for District, Family, or Probate matters.
- Click the case number on a result to open the case summary, hearings, and party list.
- For certified copies, sealed files, or older paper records, file a record search request with the court clerk and pay the search fee.
The portal returns a summary view for general public users. Parties on a case who finish the elevated-access request can view and download non-confidential documents in their own case. Confidential filings stay restricted no matter what role you log in under.
The official portal homepage is shown on the NH Case Access Portal page:
The Smart Search box and the Advanced Filtering Options sit on this screen, and the "Register/Sign In" dropdown is in the top right corner.
The Rockingham County Judicial System
New Hampshire runs a compact court system. The state has no separate mid-level appeals court. The New Hampshire Supreme Court sits at the top. Below it, the Superior Court is the trial court for felony crime, jury cases, and larger civil and equity matters. The Circuit Court is the limited-jurisdiction trial court and holds District, Family, and Probate Divisions. Rockingham County is the 10th Circuit. Federal matters from Rockingham go to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
Rockingham Superior Court uses court code 218. The Clerk of Court is Patrice D. Touma, Esq., with Deputy Clerk Megan M. Ryan, Esq. and Administrative Clerk Elizabeth J. Chase. The court's physical address is 10 Route 125, Brentwood, NH 03833. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1258, Kingston, NH 03848-1258. The statewide Judicial Branch Information Center handles routing calls at 1-855-212-1234.
Case flow: Circuit Court District/Family/Probate Division › Rockingham Superior Court › New Hampshire Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire Supreme Court | Statewide appellate | Appeals from Superior and Circuit Court final orders |
| Rockingham Superior Court | General trial, county-wide | Felonies, jury trials, larger civil, equity, agency appeals |
| 10th Circuit - District Division | Limited trial, county-wide | Misdemeanors, violations, small claims, landlord-tenant, traffic |
| 10th Circuit - Family Division | Family, county-wide | Divorce, parenting, child support, domestic violence, juvenile/family |
| 10th Circuit - Probate Division | Probate, county-wide | Wills, estates, trusts, guardianship, name change, adoption |
Rockingham County Courthouses
The Rockingham County court campus sits in Brentwood, the county seat. The Sheriff's Office, Department of Corrections, Register of Deeds, and County Attorney all sit on the same campus along North Road, while the courthouse and Registry/County Attorney are linked through 10 Route 125. The 10th Circuit Court reaches into Hampton, Portsmouth, Salem, Derry, and Candia. Use the right building for the right court division. Calling 1-855-212-1234 first will save a wasted trip.
The county describes its location and outline on the official county "About" page:
That page also explains that the county covers 36 towns and 1 city, includes all 18 miles of the state's Atlantic coastline, and was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, Second Marquis of Rockingham.
Rockingham Superior Court
10 Route 125
Brentwood, NH 03833
Mailing: P.O. Box 1258, Kingston, NH 03848-1258
1-855-212-1234
10th Circuit - District Division - Brentwood
10 Route 125
Brentwood, NH 03833
Mailing: P.O. Box 1149, Kingston, NH 03848-1149
1-855-212-1234
Clerk: LoriAnne Hensel
10th Circuit - District Division - Portsmouth
111 Parrott Avenue
Portsmouth, NH 03801-4490
1-855-212-1234
Clerk: Tracy Meyer
10th Circuit - District Division - Salem
35 Geremonty Drive
Salem, NH 03079
1-855-212-1234
Clerk: Katie Tripp
Types of Court Records Available in Rockingham County
Rockingham County court records cover many case types. The Superior Court files include felonies, civil jury cases, equity actions, and appeals from agencies. The Circuit Court files cover misdemeanors, violations, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, traffic, divorce and parenting, child support, probate, guardianship, and many family matters. Some records are open. Others are sealed by statute, by court rule, or by court order.
The court that produced the record usually controls how the file looks. A felony case file from Rockingham Superior Court reads differently than a small-claims file from the Salem District Division or an estate file from the 10th Circuit Probate Division. The Case Access Portal labels the court for each case, so the search results tell you which clerk to call for paper copies or sealed material.
- Criminal records - Indictments, complaints, bail orders, plea papers, sentencing orders, and probation conditions filed in Superior Court or the Circuit District Division.
- Civil records - Complaints, motions, exhibits, orders, judgments, writs, and appeal papers from Superior or District Division civil dockets.
- Family and divorce records - Petitions, parenting plans, support orders, and decrees filed in the 10th Circuit Family Division.
- Probate records - Wills, estate inventories, bonds, accountings, and guardianship filings handled by the Probate Division.
- Traffic records - Citations and dispositions for cases referred to court after a not-guilty plea, plus DWI criminal files.
- Warrants - Bench warrants, arrest warrants, and writ-related civil process tracked through the Sheriff's Office and the issuing court.
What Rockingham County Court Records Show
A Rockingham County case file has many fields. The case number tells you the court and the year. The header lists the parties and the type of case. The docket tracks each filing, hearing, and order in date order. Final orders and judgments tell you how the case ended. Sensitive fields are redacted or sealed under state rules and statutes.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Court code, year, case category, sequence. Rockingham Superior felony example: 218-2021-CR-01330. Rockingham Probate estate example: 318-2021-ET-00820. |
| Court / Location | Rockingham Superior Court or a 10th Circuit Division at Brentwood, Candia, Derry, Hampton, Portsmouth, or Salem. |
| Case Name | State v. Defendant for criminal cases. Plaintiff v. Defendant for civil. In re Estate of Decedent for probate. |
| Parties | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, decedent, executor, guardian, ward, fiduciary, or resident agent. |
| Filing Date | The day the complaint, petition, or notice was filed. |
| Docket Entries | Complaint, motions, objections, orders, hearings, judgments, notices of appeal, certificates of appointment, inventory, and accountings. |
| Disposition | Open, closed, dismissed, defaulted, judgment entered, sentenced, annulled, or transferred. |
| Redactions | Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, juvenile names, sealed addresses, divorce financial affidavits, mental-health filings. |
Public Access Laws for Rockingham County Court Records
New Hampshire blends several access rules. RSA 91-A is the Right-to-Know Law for executive and local government records. Court files have their own access regime tied to Judicial Branch rules and case-specific statutes. County records like Sheriff's Office reports and Commissioner minutes sit on the Right-to-Know side, while court case files run through the clerk and the Case Access Portal.
The New Hampshire Department of Justice publishes Right-to-Know guidance for agencies and requesters. Each statute or rule may carve out a confidentiality exception. A page from the General Court site is shown below for RSA 91-A:
The full text of the Right-to-Know Law is on the official RSA Chapter 91-A page:
That chapter sets inspection, copy, and format rules and lists the basic remedies for denial of access.
Key Statutes:
NH RSA § 91-A - Right-to-Know Law for governmental records and meetings; covers county and local agency records and gives requesters inspection and copy rights.
NH RSA § 91-A:5 - Lists the categories that are exempt from public disclosure, including personnel, medical, certain law-enforcement, and privacy-protected records.
NH RSA § 594 - Arrest records for adults are governmental records under RSA 91-A, with exceptions for confidential criminal-history information.
NH RSA § 651:5 - Annulment of arrest, conviction, and sentence records after the statutory waiting period.
NH RSA § 169-B:35 - Juvenile delinquency records are confidential and held separately from public files.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Some records are off limits to the public no matter how they are requested. RSA 169-B:35 keeps juvenile delinquency files confidential and limits access to parents or guardians, the minor's attorney, juvenile probation and parole, institutions, the relevant county, and others by court order or written consent. Abuse, neglect, CHINS, termination, and adoption files are tightly restricted. Divorce financial affidavits filed under RSA 458 are confidential except for parties, attorneys, the guardian ad litem, child-support officials, and other authorized people.
Mental health and involuntary admission files have medical detail and need party status or a court order for access. Grand jury records are not public. Pending or denied search warrant applications are not public. Sealed and annulled criminal records are removed from ordinary disclosure under RSA 651:5, though some law-enforcement access remains. When in doubt, ask the clerk what statute or rule applies to the file before you ask for copies.
Specialty Programs in Rockingham County
Rockingham County does not run a stand-alone drug court or mental health court page that the public can search. The county does run the Adult Diversion Program through the Department of Corrections, coordinated by Alyson Mahler. That pretrial program serves people charged with violations, misdemeanors, or felony-level offenses. Successful completion can avoid prosecution and conviction, which keeps the record off the case docket. Referral forms include the Adult Diversion Referral Form and the Superior Court Misdemeanor and Felony AWR forms.
The Department of Corrections also offers behavioral health programs tied to criminal records and reentry. Programs include STAR, substance use treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment, AA and NA, SMART Recovery, Peer Recovery with SOS Recovery, Batterer's Intervention, Trauma Group, Parenting, Anger Management, HiSET, OSHA-10, Resume Writing, and Getting Ahead While Getting Out. These are not specialty courts, but they shape jail and reentry outcomes for many Rockingham County defendants.
Rockingham County Sheriff and Jail
The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office sits at 96 North Road in Brentwood. The High Sheriff is Charles Massahos. The office has about 90 full and part-time employees. Deputies handle civil process, emergency communications, court security, prisoner transports, investigations, and warrant work. The FY 2024 annual report says the Communications Center logged 222,564 calls and the Patrol and Civil Division averaged 581 court-issued writs per month across the county's 37 towns. Sheriff phone: 603-679-2225. Civil Division: 603-679-2241. Narcotics tip line: 603-679-9497.
The Rockingham County Department of Corrections sits at 99 North Road in Brentwood with Superintendent Jon Banville. Phone: 603-679-2244. The county does not publish an official online jail roster. Use the phone for current custody questions, or sign up at VINELink for free custody notifications. See Rockingham County inmate records for the full roster routing and warrant records for active warrant procedures.
The Sheriff's Office page lists divisions, hours, and tip-line numbers on the Sheriff's Office page:
Office hours run 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call dispatch at 603-679-2225 during storms or weather delays.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Rockingham marriage licenses are issued by city and town clerks across the state. The Division of Vital Records Administration and any New Hampshire town clerk can issue certified copies of marriage, divorce, birth, and death records to people with a direct and tangible interest. Divorce cases themselves are filed with the 10th Circuit Family Division. See the marriage and divorce records page for forms, fees, and venue. Probate matters file with the Probate Division of the NH Circuit Court.
- Testator
- A person who makes a will.
- Executor
- A person named in a will to administer the estate.
- Administrator
- A person appointed to administer an estate when no executor is named.
- Fiduciary
- A person appointed by the Probate Division to manage an estate, trust, guardianship, or conservatorship.
- Resident Agent
- A New Hampshire resident appointed when the fiduciary lives outside the state.
- Conservator
- A person appointed to manage another person's financial and property affairs.
Rockingham County Court Record Fees
Fees fall into separate buckets. Court copy and search fees come from the Judicial Branch. Vital record fees come from the Division of Vital Records Administration or a town clerk. Federal court records from PACER charge their own per-page rate. Do not mix them. Always ask the clerk for the current amount before mailing payment, since fee schedules change.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Court record search per name (NHJB service center language) | $20 |
| Vital record search / first certified copy if found and eligible | $15 |
| Additional certified copy of same vital record at same time | $10 |
| Heirloom birth certificate | $25 |
| PACER federal records (per page) | $0.10 |
| PACER quarterly fee waiver threshold | $30 |
| Adult criminal record annulment - DOC investigation fee under RSA 651:5 | $100 |
Court filing fees, certificate fees, and copy fees for specific Circuit Court divisions appear in the Judicial Branch fee PDF. The clerk can confirm the live amount and the right payee.
How to Interpret Rockingham County Court Records
Most confusion comes from three habits. First, the case number prefix is the court code. 218 means Rockingham Superior. 318 means Rockingham Probate. Circuit District/Family Division codes vary by location, like Brentwood 435 or Salem 473. Second, "disposition" is not the same as a finding of guilt. A case can be dismissed, defaulted, transferred, or stayed. Third, "annulled" in New Hampshire is the equivalent of expunged or sealed under RSA 651:5; the record is removed from regular public disclosure but stays available for limited law-enforcement use.
Docket entries use short phrases like "appearance," "motion filed," "order entered," "judgment," or "certificate of appointment." A docket only shows what was filed and ordered. It does not always include the document text. To read the document itself, you may need party access through the portal or a paper copy from the clerk.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Online dockets are summaries. The clerk's paper file is the authoritative record. Updates can lag by a few days, especially after a hearing or after a sealing or annulment order. If you see an error, call the clerk and ask what is needed to correct or annotate the record. The Judicial Branch Information Center at 1-855-212-1234 will route the call to the right court division. For state criminal history record information, the New Hampshire Department of Safety has a separate challenge process.
Note: Always verify court details with the originating clerk before relying on portal data for a job, lease, license, or court appearance.
History of Rockingham County Courts
Rockingham County was organized in 1769 and incorporated in 1771. It was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, Second Marquis of Rockingham. New Hampshire's first European settlements at Pannaway and Strawbery Banke (Portsmouth) sit inside the county. Portsmouth and Exeter held early state government roles before Concord became the capital in 1808. New Hampshire's modern Circuit Court was created in 2011 under RSA 490-F, consolidating district, family, and probate functions into a single Circuit Court system. Rockingham became the 10th Circuit. The end of the Felonies First Program in December 2023 changed local transport patterns, with Sheriff transports up more than 18% in FY 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I search Rockingham County court records online?
Use the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Case Access Portal at odypa.nhecourt.us/portal. Pick Smart Search, open Advanced Filtering Options, and set Filter by Location to Superior Courts or the right Circuit Court location. Search by case number or party name. Case numbers do not need dashes or leading zeros. For older or sealed records, call the clerk.
Is the Rockingham County court search free?
General public Smart Search and case summary viewing on the portal is free. A free registered account is needed for elevated party or attorney access to non-confidential case documents. Copy, certification, transcript, and clerk record-search fees are separate. NHJB service-center materials list a $20 per-name search fee. Confirm the current amount with the clerk before mailing payment.
What court handles felonies in Rockingham County?
Felony criminal cases are filed in Rockingham Superior Court. The clerk's office is associated with 10 Route 125, Brentwood. The Judicial Branch Information Center number is 1-855-212-1234. Misdemeanors, violations, small claims, landlord-tenant, and most traffic matters file in the 10th Circuit Court District Division at Brentwood, Candia, Derry, Hampton, Portsmouth, or Salem.
More on the Rockingham County Court Records FAQ page.