Judicial records of Strafford County, New Hampshire, are maintained by the district court clerk's office and are accessible through official court portals, the court clerk's office, and online tools. StraffordCourt.us will help you navigate publicly available information about court cases in this county. Additional resources — the New Hampshire state court system portal, the federal PACER system, and local clerks' offices — provide full access to case materials, hearing schedules, and forms.
Strafford Court System Overview
The court system in Strafford County operates as part of the unified judicial system of New Hampshire, which is administered by the state, not the county. Strafford is part of the 7th Circuit Court (Circuit Court — Dover District Division). The district court in Dover serves three cities and ten towns in the county, handling criminal, civil, family, and probate cases. The court operates in the Dover District Court building.
Dover District Court
Federal cases of county residents are handled by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire in Concord.
Courts Serving Strafford
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Dover District Court (7th Circuit — District Division) | 25 Saint Thomas Street, Dover, NH 03820 | (603) 742-3065 |
| Rochester District Court | 76 North Main Street, Rochester, NH 03867 | (603) 332-3516 |
| U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire | 55 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301 | (603) 225-1423 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Hampshire | 1000 Elm Street, Suite 1001, Manchester, NH 03101 | (603) 222-2600 |
There are no municipal courts in New Hampshire — all first-instance cases are handled by the Circuit Court.
What Types of Cases Strafford Courts Hear
Strafford County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil claims, including small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony, protective orders
- Probate cases: estate administration, guardianship, trust management
- Juvenile cases: delinquency, child protection, adoption
- Traffic violations and DUI
District Court Cases in Strafford
In the New Hampshire Circuit Court system, the district division in Dover hears felony cases after a preliminary hearing, civil claims over $25,000, and appeals from lower divisions. Cases reach the district court after a grand jury indictment or following a preliminary hearing. A Circuit Court judge assigned to the district division presides. Additionally, post-conviction motions — such as sentence reduction or probation condition review — are heard here.
Magistrate Court Cases in Strafford
Misdemeanors, minor infractions, preliminary hearings in felony cases, and traffic violations fall under the jurisdiction of the magistrate division of the Circuit Court. Civil claims up to $25,000 are also heard here. Small claims are limited to $10,000 according to state law.
DUI cases begin in this division: charges, bail hearings, and subsequent proceedings. If a case is classified as a felony, the judge transfers it to the district division. The volume of traffic violation cases in Dover and Rochester is significant, so hearing schedules are typically divided by case type.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Strafford
Family Law. Divorce, custody establishment, child support, protective orders (domestic violence protection orders), and paternity cases are handled by the Family Division of the Circuit Court in Dover. To obtain a protective order, you can apply directly to the court clerk's office.
Probate Cases. Estate administration, appointment of guardians and conservators, trust management issues are all handled by the Probate Division. Each county in New Hampshire has a separate probate court; for Strafford, it is located in Dover.
Juvenile Matters. Proceedings under the Juvenile Delinquency Act and child protection cases (Child Protective Act) are confidential. Access to materials is restricted by law. If you need information about these proceedings, contact the court clerk's office directly.
How Cases Move Through the Strafford Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a police complaint or indictment. A civil case starts with filing a complaint with the clerk's office. Family or probate cases begin with a petition.
- Judge Assignment. The clerk's office assigns the case to a specific Circuit Court judge.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment. In civil cases — scheduling conference to set timelines.
- Pre-trial Phase. Exchange of evidence (discovery), filing motions, plea negotiations in criminal cases.
- Trial or Resolution. The case concludes with a verdict, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Decision. Sentencing, appeal to the NH Supreme Court, or enforcement of the decision.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Strafford
The courts of the county are administered by the administrative judge of the 7th Circuit Court along with the Trial Court Administrator. Local rules for the Circuit Court are published on the New Hampshire judicial system website.
Regarding public access: most court records in New Hampshire are considered public under RSA 91-A (Right-to-Know Law) and court administrative rules. However, some categories — juvenile cases, sealed records, protective order materials — have restricted access.
- You can attend hearings in person at the court building in Dover. Some hearings are held remotely via WebEx — check with the clerk's office.
- Requests for copies of court documents are submitted through the court clerk's office. Certified copies usually require a fee.
For federal cases, materials are available through the PACER system, as well as through the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire portal.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Strafford
- State Court Case Search. The New Hampshire Circuit Court portal allows online case searches. Contact the Dover District Court clerk's office at (603) 742-3065 for details.
- Arrest Records. Arrest information in Strafford County is available through the sheriff's office and police logs. The Dover Police arrest log is published weekly.
- County Sheriff's Office. Strafford County Sheriff's Office is located at 259 County Farm Road, Suite 105, Dover, NH 03820. It operates Monday through Friday, 8:00–16:00.
- County Correctional Facility. Strafford County Department of Corrections provides information about inmates, visitation rules, and inmate telephone system. A historical inmate register is also available in the county archive.
- Property Registry. Strafford County Registry of Deeds is the land records registration office for all county municipalities.
- Tax and Property Data. An interactive parcel map covers the entire region. For Dover, a separate MapGeo property portal is available.
- Vital Records. Birth, marriage, and death certificates are issued by the Town Clerk, authorized by the state's Vital Records Department.
- Sex Offender Registry. The statewide registry is maintained by the New Hampshire Department of Safety and is available online on the NH Division of State Police website.
- Forms and Self-Help Resources. Court forms for self-representation are available on the New Hampshire Judicial Branch website. The Dover court clerk's office can assist with procedural questions but does not provide legal advice.