Better NH RSA Search

Enter something like RSA 508 or RSA 508:4 or 508:4.


This tool links to New Hampshire statutes hosted at gc.nh.gov. You will be redirected to gc.nh.gov. This website was not created by the State of New Hampshire and does not host statutory text.

What is an RSA in New Hampshire?

RSA stands for Revised Statutes Annotated. According to the New Hampshire Law Library, the Revised Statutes Annotated are "New Hampshire's current statutory code. A statutory code contains general and permanent statutes organized by topic." The RSAs were first published in 1955. The RSAs are published by Thomson West.

Prior to 1955, there were other statutory compilations, such as the Revised Statutes (R.S.), which were first passed in 1842. See Williams v. Putnam, 14 N.H. 520, 543 (1844). A list of historical statutory compilations and codes is available here.

How do I search for a New Hampshire RSA?

The website of the New Hampshire General Court (the formal name of the state legislature) contains a search tool that allow for full text search of the NH RSAs.

Better NH RSA Search was created because of perceived deficiencies with the user experience of the General Court search website linked above. To use Better NH RSA Search, simply enter an RSA chapter or section number in the search box above, then hit "Go" or the return key. For example, you can enter RSA 508, RSA 508:4, or simply 508:4. The search tool will direct you to the corresponding New Hampshire statute on the New Hampshire General Court website.

Can I search for an entire RSA chapter?

Yes. Enter the chapter number, such as RSA 508, to locate that chapter of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes. It can sometimes be useful to be able to navigate to an entire statuory chapter for legal research purposes, as opposed to having to view each section individually.

Can I search for a specific RSA section?

Yes. Enter the chapter and section separated by a colon, such as RSA 227-J:8-a or simply 227-J:8-a (without the RSA leader), to locate a specific New Hampshire statute.

Where can I find the official text of New Hampshire statutes?

The official version of the RSAs are books published by Thomson West. However, as noted above, the General Court of New Hampshire maintains an online version of the RSAs on the General Court website. The website contains a disclaimer stating that the "material available on this website, while believed to be accurate, is provided for informational purposes only." The website includes a date at the top indicating the last time the online version of the RSAs was updated.

Does Better NH RSA Search work on mobile phones and tablets?

Yes, Better NH RSA Search should work well on mobile devices. It can also be used as a web app. On iPhones, navigate to https://izdr1.github.io/NH-RSA/ in Safari, tap the Share button, and select Add to Home Screen. Better NH RSA Search should then be conveniently accessible as a web app on your phone.

Is Better NH RSA Search an official State of New Hampshire website?

No. Better NH RSA Search is an independent search tool created by Israel Piedra with the assistance of ChatGPT. This website is not created, operated, or endorsed by the State of New Hampshire. The tool merely links to the online version of the RSAs maintained on the General Court website. The General Court website uses an uniform URL structure (statutory title, chapter, and then section) and this tool generates the appropriate URL based on the inputted statute. To browse or search the online RSAs directly, please visit the New Hampshire General Court website at gc.nh.gov. All warranties are disclaimed.