Probate in New Hampshire · 10 counties
New Hampshire Probate Courts
Estates here go through the Circuit Court (Probate Division). Pick a county on the map or search below — each record shows where to file and where every detail comes from.
Small-estate limit
None
Wait 30 days
Death taxes
None
No state death tax
Executor fee
Reasonable
Reasonable fee set by the court
Handwritten wills
No
Witnesses required
Plate · NH
Every New Hampshire county, on one map
Population, low → high Green = county courthouse mapped in OpenStreetMap Green = probate office details checked on the court's own website courthouse
§ I
New Hampshire probate rules
- Court
- Circuit Court (Probate Division)In New Hampshire, all probate and trust cases are adjudicated in the Circuit Court Probate Division located in 10 county seats.
- Small estates
- No dollar-capped small-estate affidavit. Waiver of Administration (RSA 553:32) available regardless of value when sole/all beneficiaries or heirs serve as administrator; closing statement filed 6-12 months after appointmentN.H. RSA 553:32 (Waiver of Administration)
- Filing the will
- Custodian must deliver will to probate court or named executor within 30 days after knowledge of death (RSA 552:2)
- Creditor claims
- 6 months after grant of administration to present claim; suit within 1 year (RSA § 556:3)N.H. RSA § 556:3 & § 556:5
- Executor fees
- Reasonable compensation for work, responsibility and risk, subject to Probate Court approval (no statutory percentage)N.H. Cir. Ct. Probate Div. Rule 88 · calculator
- Estate tax
- NoneNew Hampshire has no state estate tax.
- Inheritance tax
- NoneNo inheritance tax in New Hampshire.
- Typical duration
- 6 to 12 months
- Official courts site
- courts.nh.govCase search: New Hampshire Judicial Branch Case Access Portal
Re-checked Sept 2026 against: law.justia.com (statute) · law.justia.com (statute) · nolo.com · courts.nh.gov (courts) · law.justia.com (statute)
Need help with an estate in New Hampshire?
Where to get help.
We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.
- 01 New Hampshire courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
- 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
- 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
§ II · Register
All 10 counties
Sorted by population. office checked = probate office address/phone confirmed on the court's own website. courthouse mapped = located in OpenStreetMap.
| # | County | Seat | Population | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hillsborough County | Manchester | 427,354 | courthouse mapped |
| 2 | Rockingham County | Brentwood | 320,689 | courthouse mapped |
| 3 | Merrimack County | Concord | 157,103 | courthouse mapped |
| 4 | Strafford County | Dover | 133,243 | courthouse mapped |
| 5 | Grafton County | Haverhill | 93,146 | courthouse mapped |
| 6 | Cheshire County | Keene | 77,703 | courthouse mapped |
| 7 | Belknap County | Laconia | 65,027 | courthouse mapped |
| 8 | Carroll County | Ossipee | 52,448 | courthouse mapped |
| 9 | Sullivan County | Newport | 43,969 | courthouse mapped |
| 10 | Coos County | Lancaster | 31,372 | courthouse mapped |
§ III
New Hampshire probate questions
What is the small estate affidavit limit in New Hampshire?
No dollar-capped small-estate affidavit. Waiver of Administration (RSA 553:32) available regardless of value when sole/all beneficiaries or heirs serve as administrator; closing statement filed 6-12 months after appointment (N.H. RSA 553:32 (Waiver of Administration)). It can be used 30 days after death. Wait 30 days after death. Gross personal estate cannot exceed $25,000, and decedent must not have owned real estate.
How are executor and administrator fees calculated in New Hampshire?
Reasonable compensation for work, responsibility and risk, subject to Probate Court approval (no statutory percentage) (N.H. Cir. Ct. Probate Div. Rule 88). Courts can award more for extraordinary services, such as running a business or litigation.
What is the creditor claim deadline for estates in New Hampshire?
6 months after grant of administration to present claim; suit within 1 year (RSA § 556:3) (N.H. RSA § 556:3 & § 556:5). Claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.
Does New Hampshire recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?
No — witnesses are required. New Hampshire does NOT recognize unwitnessed holographic wills (requires two witnesses under RSA § 551:2).
Does New Hampshire have a state estate tax or inheritance tax?
New Hampshire has no state estate tax. There is no inheritance tax.