|
The New Hampshire Court System At a Glance
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court consists of five justices who decide appeals from all levels of court including civil, criminal, juvenile cases and cases involving administrative agencies. They also issue advisory opinions at the request of the executive and legislative branches.
Superior Court
There are 26 justices of the Superior Court assigned to 11 locations in 10 counties. Their responsibilities include:
-
jury trials in civil and criminal cases
-
cases that resulted in damage to persons or property, contracts, property ownership, and other civil matters valued at more than $1,500.
-
divorce and custody and support cases in all counties except Grafton and Rockingham.
-
serious criminal cases
-
appeals from District Court in certain types of cases
-
domestic violence petitions along with the District Court and Family Division
District Court
The District Court has justices assigned to locations in 35 cities and towns. Their responsibilities include:
-
Cases involving landlords and tenants
-
civil cases (valued up to $25,000) involving damage to persons or property, contracts, and property
-
small claims (valued up to $5,000)
-
misdemeanor and violation level
-
traffic violations
-
domestic violence petitions (
counties where established.)
Probate Court
There are 10 probate court judges, one assigned to each county. Their responsibilities include:
-
cases dealing with adoption, termination of parental rights, guardianships of adults, trusts, wills, estates and involuntary commitments.
Family Division
The Family Division operates in 22 locations across the state in eight counties .Family Division cases include:
-
divorce/parenting action child support
-
domestic violence petitions
-
guardianship of minors
-
termination of parental rights
-
abuse/neglect cases
-
children in need of services
-
juvenile delinquency
-
and some adoptions.
The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program includes 4 programs set up to help people resolve their cases without going to litigation. These processes are more informal than a court proceeding and can save money for the individuals involved. ADR programs include civil mediation in Superior Court, marital mediation in the Superior and Family Division Courts, marital neutral evaluation in the Superior and Family Division Courts and Probate Court mediation.
Case Types
Different types of
cases are heard at various levels of court. The chart below
lists case types and the appropriate level of court for your
issue. You will then have to determine the specific court
location for your town, city or county. Directions
are available.
|
