Quick Overview
- New Hampshire uses the term annulment to describe its criminal record relief mechanism under RSA 651:5.
- New Hampshire's annulment statute requires satisfaction of waiting periods and grants the court discretion to deny the petition even when waiting periods are met.
- New Hampshire annulment is more effective at sealing the official record than Nebraska's set aside - but the online footprint problem is essentially the same across all states.
On this page 6 sections
New Hampshire's "Annulment" - What It Is and What It Isn't
New Hampshire uses the term annulment to describe its criminal record relief mechanism under RSA 651:5. This is New Hampshire's version of expungement - the terminology is unique to the state, but the functional result is closer to true expungement than mechanisms like Nebraska's set aside.
When a New Hampshire court grants an annulment, it:
- Vacates the conviction and seals the criminal record
- Notifies the New Hampshire State Police (NHSP) to update the criminal history record
- Allows you to legally deny the existence of the arrest or conviction in most circumstances
What an annulment does not do:
- Remove copies already indexed by Google, data brokers, or third-party legal databases
- Affect federal records or FBI criminal history
- Apply to all offenses - certain crimes remain ineligible regardless of time elapsed
| Offense Level | Waiting Period | Court Portal Sealed? | NHSP Record Updated? | Google Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrest / non-conviction | After case concludes | Yes | Yes | After source restricted |
| Violation / Class B Misdemeanor | 1 year after discharge | Yes | Yes | After source restricted |
| Class A Misdemeanor | 3 years after discharge | Yes | Yes | After source restricted |
| Felony | 10 years after discharge | Yes | Yes | After source restricted |
| Sexual assault / crimes vs. minors | Ineligible | No | No | Deeper analysis needed |
Who Is Eligible for an Annulment in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's annulment statute requires satisfaction of waiting periods and grants the court discretion to deny the petition even when waiting periods are met. RSA 651:5 sets out the framework. For more information, visit the New Hampshire Courts.
Misdemeanor Annulment
For Class A misdemeanor convictions, the waiting period is three years after final discharge from all sentences including probation. For Class B misdemeanors and violations, the waiting period is one year. General requirements include: Learn more about expungement vs. record sealing on our blog.
- Complete discharge from all terms of sentence
- No pending criminal charges in any jurisdiction
- The court finds that the annulment is in the best interest of justice
Felony Annulment
Felony annulments require a 10-year waiting period from final discharge. Additional considerations: Learn more about court record removal on our blog.
- No subsequent convictions during the waiting period
- The nature and circumstances of the offense are considered
- The court weighs rehabilitation, subsequent conduct, and community safety
- Multiple felony convictions significantly complicate eligibility
Certain offenses are categorically ineligible for annulment in New Hampshire, including sexual assault, offenses involving a minor victim, and certain violent offenses. The court also retains discretion to deny any petition it deems contrary to the public interest. Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
Unlike some states with mandatory sealing upon meeting eligibility criteria, New Hampshire courts have discretion to deny an annulment petition even when all waiting periods and technical requirements are met. The strength of the petition - including evidence of rehabilitation and community contributions - can be decisive for borderline cases, particularly involving felony annulments.
Why New Hampshire Records Persist Online After Annulment
New Hampshire annulment is more effective at sealing the official record than Nebraska's set aside - but the online footprint problem is essentially the same across all states. Each source must be addressed independently. For more information, visit the New Hampshire General Court.
courts.nh.gov - New Hampshire Judicial Branch Portal
The New Hampshire Judicial Branch operates the public court record portal at courts.nh.gov. After an annulment is granted, the case should be restricted from public access on this portal. However, processing delays between the court and the statewide case management system can mean the case remains visible for weeks or months. Additionally, NHSP must be separately notified to update the state criminal history record.
New Hampshire State Police Criminal Records Unit
The NHSP Criminal Records Unit maintains the state criminal history database. The court's annulment order should trigger an NHSP update, but this is a separate process requiring notification. If the court does not automatically notify NHSP, the petitioner or their attorney may need to follow up directly. Employers conducting official criminal history checks through NHSP should see the annulment reflected once the update is processed.
CourtListener and Legal Databases
CourtListener indexes New Hampshire Supreme Court opinions. If your case produced a published appellate opinion, that opinion may appear independently of the trial court annulment. Appellate opinions are considered public legal documents and publisher removal requests often move further with a court order directed at the publisher, and Google de-indexing can be pursued alongside.
Data Broker Sites
Data broker aggregators scraped the courts.nh.gov portal and other public sources before the annulment was entered. After annulment, the court portal restricts new access - but these sites retain their independently cached data. Each site requires individual opt-out requests, and documentation of the annulment order can assist with some platforms that offer expedited processing for expungement-related requests.
New Hampshire's annulment mechanism is genuinely effective at sealing official records - but the gap between "officially sealed" and "gone from the internet" is significant for most residents. The combination of data broker opt-outs, Google removal requests, and content suppression is the standard playbook. The annulment documentation helps accelerate data broker removals on sites that specifically accept expungement or annulment documentation as grounds for expedited removal.
How to Remove New Hampshire Court Records from Google and Data Broker Sites
After obtaining a New Hampshire annulment, the following steps address the online dimension of your record. We evaluate each source and pursue removal where it is realistically achievable.
-
1
Obtain your annulment order and notify NHSP
File your annulment petition under RSA 651:5 in the appropriate court. After the court grants the annulment, obtain a certified copy of the order and ensure the New Hampshire State Police Criminal Records Unit is notified to update the state criminal history record. Request confirmation from NHSP that the update has been processed. -
2
Verify courts.nh.gov is updated
Search the courts.nh.gov portal for your name and case number to confirm the case is restricted from public view. If the case still appears after the annulment is processed, contact the clerk of the court that entered the annulment order to trigger the portal update. -
3
Inventory all Google results showing your record
Search Google with combinations of your name, county, charge type, and year. Document every URL returning a result - courts.nh.gov, CourtListener, Justia, data broker sites, local news archives. This inventory is your removal work queue. -
4
Submit data broker opt-out requests with annulment documentation
Submit opt-out requests to all major data brokers displaying your record. Include a copy of the annulment order where the platform's process permits it - several major brokers offer expedited or annulment-specific removal processes. Re-check each site in 90 days and re-submit as needed. -
5
Contact legal databases directly
If your case appears on CourtListener or Justia, contact each platform directly with documentation of the annulment. These platforms have differing policies - CourtListener will generally de-index records from sealed state courts, while Justia's response depends on the nature and source of the content. -
6
Use Google's removal tools
After source pages are restricted, submit removal requests through Google's Personal Information Removal Tool for URLs referencing the annulled record. Use Google's outdated content removal tool (removals.google.com) to de-cache pages that have been restricted at the source but still appear in Google's cache.
Post-Annulment Monitoring for New Hampshire Records
After a New Hampshire annulment, the official record is sealed - but third-party sites can surface your record again from residual data or new indexing. We monitor for new appearances after the initial removal campaign and address them proactively.
Ask About MonitoringHelpful Resources for New Hampshire Annulment
- New Hampshire Courts - official court portal, case search, and annulment petition forms
- New Hampshire General Court - full text of RSA 651:5 and related statutes
- United States Courts - federal court records and PACER access
- FTC: What to Know About Background Checks - your rights under the FCRA
Related Guides
- Expungement vs. Sealing: What's the Difference?
- Can Court Records Actually Be Removed?
- How Court Records Appear on Background Checks
- How to Remove Court Records from Spokeo
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