Merrimack County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Merrimack County?

Public records in Merrimack County are defined under the New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law, RSA 91-A, as any information created, accepted, or obtained by, or on behalf of, any public body, or a quorum or majority thereof, in furtherance of its official function. These records provide citizens with transparency into government operations and are maintained by various county departments.

Merrimack County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases processed through the New Hampshire Judicial Branch
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Registry of Deeds
Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates (with access restrictions)
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations
Tax Records: Property tax information and assessment records
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: County Commission and other board meetings
Budget and Financial Documents: County expenditures, budgets, and financial reports
Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and certain incident reports (subject to exemptions)
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, permits, and zoning decisions

The Merrimack County Registry of Deeds maintains property records, while the Merrimack County Superior Court houses court records. Vital records are primarily maintained by the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration with certified copies available through town clerks within the county.

Is Merrimack County an Open Records County?

Merrimack County adheres to New Hampshire's Right-to-Know Law, which establishes the state's commitment to government transparency. Under RSA 91-A:1, the statute explicitly states: "Openness in the conduct of public business is essential to a democratic society. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure both the greatest possible public access to the actions, discussions and records of all public bodies, and their accountability to the people."

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has consistently interpreted this law to favor disclosure and public access. In Union Leader Corp. v. City of Nashua, the court emphasized that the Right-to-Know Law should be construed "with a view to providing the utmost information in order to best effectuate the statutory and constitutional objective of facilitating access to all public documents."

Merrimack County government operations fall under this state mandate and must comply with all provisions of RSA 91-A. The Merrimack County Board of Commissioners has established procedures to ensure compliance with these open records requirements, including proper notice of meetings, maintenance of minutes, and timely responses to records requests.

The county does not maintain separate ordinances regarding public records access but follows state law requirements for all county departments and agencies.

How to Find Public Records in Merrimack County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records from Merrimack County may follow these procedures to obtain the information they need:

Identify the appropriate department: Determine which county office maintains the records you seek. The Merrimack County website provides a directory of departments.
Submit a written request: While verbal requests are permitted under RSA 91-A, written requests create documentation and help ensure accuracy. Requests should:
- Clearly identify the records sought
- Provide contact information
- Specify preferred format (electronic or paper)
For property records: Visit the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds in person or access their online portal:

Merrimack County Registry of Deeds
163 North Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 228-0101
Merrimack County Registry of Deeds
For court records: Contact the Merrimack County Superior Court:

Merrimack County Superior Court
163 North Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
(855) 212-1234
Merrimack County Superior Court
For vital records: Request through the town clerk where the event occurred or the NH Division of Vital Records Administration.
For county administrative records: Submit requests to:

Merrimack County Administration
333 Daniel Webster Highway
Boscawen, NH 03303
(603) 796-6800
Merrimack County Administration

Under RSA 91-A:4, agencies must respond to requests "immediately or within 5 business days" if the record is not immediately available. If access is denied, the agency must provide written reasons citing the specific exemption under the law.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Merrimack County?

Merrimack County follows the fee structure guidelines established in RSA 91-A:4(IV), which permits charging only the "actual cost of providing the copy." Current standard fees for public records in Merrimack County include:

Paper copies: $0.25-$0.50 per page for standard documents
Certified copies: Additional certification fees apply (typically $5-$15)
Electronic records: May be provided at no cost when records are already in electronic format
Research fees: Generally not permitted for standard searches, though extensive research may incur reasonable fees

Specific record types have statutorily established fees:

Vital records: $15 for the first copy, $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
Recorded documents (Registry of Deeds): $4 per page for copies
Court records: $0.50 per page for copies, with additional fees for certified copies

Payment methods accepted by most county offices include:

Cash (in-person only)
Check or money order
Credit/debit cards (in some departments)

The New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law prohibits charging fees for inspection of records, and agencies cannot charge for time spent reviewing records for confidential information. If a request is expected to exceed $25 in costs, the agency may provide a written estimate before proceeding.

Fee waivers may be available when disclosure serves the public interest, though this is determined on a case-by-case basis by the records custodian.

Does Merrimack County Have Free Public Records?

Merrimack County provides free access to certain public records in accordance with New Hampshire law. Under RSA 91-A:4(IV), citizens have the right to inspect available public records during regular business hours at no charge. The following free records access options are currently available:

In-person inspection: All non-exempt public records may be viewed at no cost during regular business hours at the appropriate county office
Online property records: Basic property information can be accessed through the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds online portal
Meeting minutes and agendas: Available on the Merrimack County website
County budget documents: Financial reports and budgets are available for review on the county website
Voter checklists: Available for inspection at town clerk offices (copying fees may apply)

The Merrimack County Superior Court provides public access terminals for searching court records at no cost, though printing fees apply. Additionally, the New Hampshire Court System offers an online case lookup system with basic case information available without charge.

The New Hampshire State Archives also maintains historical records related to Merrimack County that can be accessed for free research purposes.

Who Can Request Public Records in Merrimack County?

Under New Hampshire's Right-to-Know Law, RSA 91-A:4, "every citizen" has the right to inspect and copy public records. The New Hampshire Supreme Court has interpreted this provision broadly, and in practice, Merrimack County provides access to:

New Hampshire residents
Out-of-state residents
Foreign nationals
Organizations, businesses, and media outlets
Government agencies

Requestors generally do not need to:

Provide identification (except for certain restricted records)
State the purpose of their request
Explain how the information will be used
Be physically present in New Hampshire

However, specific record types have additional requirements:

Vital records: Access is restricted to the person named in the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a "direct and tangible interest" as defined in RSA 5-C:9
Criminal records: Complete criminal history requires signed authorization from the subject under RSA 106-B:14
Medical records: Access is restricted by HIPAA and state privacy laws
Juvenile records: Access is limited by RSA 169-B:35

When requesting your own records, identification is typically required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. For requests by mail, notarized authorization may be required for sensitive records.

What Records Are Confidential in Merrimack County?

Merrimack County maintains certain records as confidential in accordance with exemptions specified in RSA 91-A:5 and other state and federal laws. These protected records include:

Personal information: Records pertaining to internal personnel practices, personal information in motor vehicle records, and personal school records of pupils
Medical records: Patient medical information protected under HIPAA and state privacy laws
Juvenile records: Court proceedings and law enforcement records involving minors under RSA 169-B:35
Ongoing investigations: Records pertaining to active law enforcement investigations or pending litigation
Grand jury proceedings: Testimony and evidence presented to grand juries
Confidential business information: Trade secrets, confidential commercial or financial information
Attorney-client communications: Legal advice and strategy discussions between county officials and legal counsel
Security information: Emergency response plans, security procedures, and infrastructure details that could compromise public safety
Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order, including certain domestic violence cases, adoptions, and expunged criminal records
Social Security numbers: Personal identifying information that could facilitate identity theft
Child protection records: Reports and investigations of child abuse or neglect under RSA 169-C:25
Library user records: Information about individual library patrons and their borrowing history

New Hampshire law requires agencies to apply a balancing test when determining if certain records should be withheld. Under this test, agencies must weigh the public's interest in disclosure against privacy interests or other harms that might result from release.

When a record contains both public and confidential information, RSA 91-A:4(VII) requires agencies to redact the confidential portions and release the remainder when reasonably practical.

Merrimack County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Merrimack County Registry of Deeds
163 North Main Street, Suite 2
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 228-0101
Merrimack County Registry of Deeds

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on Federal and State Holidays

Services Provided:

Recording of deeds, mortgages, and liens
Property record searches
Document copies and certifications
Land record research assistance

Additional County Offices:

Merrimack County Administration
333 Daniel Webster Highway
Boscawen, NH 03303
(603) 796-6800
Merrimack County Administration

Merrimack County Superior Court
163 North Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
(855) 212-1234
Merrimack County Superior Court

Merrimack County Sheriff's Office
333 Daniel Webster Highway
Boscawen, NH 03303
(603) 796-6600
Merrimack County Sheriff's Office

Merrimack County Department of Corrections
314 Daniel Webster Highway
Boscawen, NH 03303
(603) 796-2107
Merrimack County Department of Corrections

Lookup Public Records in Merrimack County

Merrimack County, NH