Criminal Record Annulment in Rockingham County

Clear Your Record. Over 50 Years of NH Court Experience Behind Every Petition.

In New Hampshire, what most states call expungement is legally known as annulment, governed by RSA 651:5. A court-granted annulment means you’re treated in all respects as if the arrest, conviction, or sentence never happened. For Rockingham County residents, that distinction matters: a past record can quietly block employment opportunities, housing applications, and professional licenses. Annulment is the legal path to clearing it.

At Beaton & Kiers, PLLC, we handle criminal record annulment petitions for clients throughout Rockingham County and across New Hampshire. With over 50 years of combined experience in New Hampshire courts, we know what it takes to build a petition that can hold up, including when a prosecutor objects.

Find out whether your record qualifies. Call us at (603) 769-3491 to schedule a free consultation, available in person, virtually, and 24/7. Se habla español.

Who Qualifies for Annulment in New Hampshire

Eligibility turns on two things: the nature of the offense and how much time has passed since you completed every condition of your sentence. Under RSA 651:5, waiting periods run from the date all sentence terms are fully satisfied, not from the conviction date itself.

General waiting periods by offense class:

• 1 year for a violation
• 2 years for a Class B misdemeanor
• 3 years for a Class A misdemeanor
• 5 years for a Class B felony
• 10 years for a Class A felony, DWI, domestic violence conviction, or sexual assault under RSA 632-A:4

If you have multiple convictions, the waiting period for every offense on your record must be satisfied before any petition can be filed. If even one offense is permanently ineligible for annulment, no petition can move forward for any offense on that record. Permanently ineligible offenses include violent crimes, felony obstruction of justice, and offenses sentenced under the extended-term provisions of RSA 651:6.

There’s one important shortcut worth knowing. For cases resolved on or after January 1, 2019, with a not-guilty finding, a dismissal, or a decision not to prosecute, annulment happens automatically 30 days later. No petition, no filing fee, no court appearance required. Cases from before that date still require a standard petition. Misdemeanor and violation-level cannabis possession offenses that occurred before January 1, 2025, may also be petitioned at any time under RSA 651:5-c, with no waiting period.

These are general guidelines under current New Hampshire law. Your specific situation may involve offenses, sentence conditions, or procedural history that affects eligibility in ways that aren’t obvious from the statute alone. We’ll review the details with you.

How the Annulment Process Works in Rockingham County

Petitions must be filed in the court where the original charge was resolved. For felonies, that’s Rockingham Superior Court in Brentwood. For misdemeanors and violations, it’s the applicable 10th Circuit District Division, including the Hampton location. A separate petition is required for each charge, even when multiple charges arose from the same incident and were resolved the same day.

Fees, Court Discretion, & the Objection Risk

Government fees total up to $300: a $100 court filing fee, a $100 Department of Corrections report fee, and a $100 NH State Police administrative fee. The court then weighs whether annulment will assist your rehabilitation and is consistent with the public welfare. That standard gives the judge real discretion to deny a technically eligible petition, and the prosecutor’s office may file an objection that triggers a hearing.

Why Getting the Petition Right the First Time Matters

If a petition is filed before the waiting period has fully run, the court can deny it, and you may then need to wait three additional years before filing again. NH annulment law is also spread across multiple chapters of the criminal and motor vehicle codes, and the waiting period rules don’t follow a simple pattern by offense severity.

Our team has handled thousands of cases in Rockingham County courts and has the trial experience to represent clients at contested hearings when a petition is challenged. We don’t just prepare the paperwork. We prepare the argument.

Why Rockingham County Clients Choose Beaton & Kiers, PLLC

Criminal record annulment isn’t a form-filling exercise. It’s a legal proceeding with real stakes, and the petition needs to be tailored to the judge’s standard and the prosecutor’s likely response. Our attorneys bring New Hampshire courtroom experience, including in drug courts and mental health courts, which matters directly for clients whose past conviction involved substance-related or mental health-related circumstances.

What working with us looks like:

• Flat fees available so you know the cost before you commit, without billing surprises
• 24/7 availability to answer questions as they come up
• Free consultations in person or virtually so you can assess your options before deciding
• Membership in the NHACDL and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, reflecting our commitment to criminal defense as a practice area, not a side service
• Over 50 years of combined New Hampshire court experience behind every petition we file

A past record can feel like something that defines you, especially when it keeps surfacing in background checks. It doesn’t have to. A successful annulment petition may change what employers see, what landlords find, and what professional licensing boards review.

Get a Free Annulment Consultation in Rockingham County

If you’re ready to find out whether your record qualifies for annulment in Rockingham County, we’re ready to help. We can review your record, walk through the applicable waiting periods, and tell you honestly what we think a petition can accomplish in your case. Consultations are free, available around the clock, and can be held in person or virtually. Spanish-speaking staff are available.

Call Beaton & Kiers, PLLC at (603) 769-3491 to get started.