Guide
New Hampshire Expungement Research Resources
New Hampshire calls record relief annulment, under RSA 651:5; the process begins with a petition to annul in the court of jurisdiction. The official New Hampshire sources are listed below.
- NH Judicial Branch, AnnulmentDistrict Division annulment petitions and forms
- NH State Police, Criminal Record AnnulmentsFees and how annulled records leave state and FBI files
- RSA 651:5Annulment of criminal records
This directory is for informational and research use only. Expungement eligibility, waiting periods, filing fees, notice rules, and the effect on background checks can differ significantly depending on the state, offense level, case outcome, and later law changes.
Guide
Sealing a divorce or civil file in New Hampshire
New Hampshire closes the divorce financial affidavit by statute and leaves the rest of the file to the general sealing standard. RSA 458:15-b, I-a provides that all financial affidavits filed under the chapter are confidential and accessible only to the parties, their attorneys, the guardian ad litem, Department of Health and Human Services child support staff, persons specified in RSA 161-B:7 and state and federal officials; Family Division Rule 2.16 restates it for divorce, legal separation, annulment, child support and parenting cases. Under paragraph II, a person who knowingly discloses an affidavit to someone not authorized commits a misdemeanor, and under paragraph III the court may release one only on clear and convincing evidence that the public interest outweighs the private interest.
Family Division Rule 1.30 is the procedure for a non-party seeking any confidential record: a motion in an open case or a petition in a closed case, with no filing fee and notice to the parties. For access to other sealed or confidential records the rule cites the standard in Petition of Keene Sentinel, 136 N.H. 121 (1992). The rules are at Family Division Rule 1 and the statute at RSA 458:15-b.
Guide
Research Notes
- Start with the court and the originating agency. Expungement or sealing requests are often handled through the court that heard the case, sometimes with supporting records from police, prosecutors, or corrections agencies.
- Terminology differs by state. Some jurisdictions use terms such as sealing, set-aside, vacatur, dismissal relief, or nondisclosure instead of expungement.
- Verify current law. Eligibility rules can change through legislation or court decisions, so always confirm the current process before relying on older instructions or third-party summaries.
- Understand downstream effects. Even after record relief, treatment of court, police, private-background check, and federal records may differ depending on the system involved.
By state