The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for New Hampshire with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page New Hampshire reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our New Hampshire probate pages.
New Hampshire probate fees
| Item | New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Tiered by the value of the estate, roughly $90 to $265 to open the case in the circuit court probate division. |
| Attorney fees | Not statutory. New Hampshire attorneys charge a flat fee ($3,000–$6,000 for a routine estate) or hourly. Fees must be reasonable and are subject to court review. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | The administrator or executor is entitled to reasonable compensation (commonly in the range of 2%–4% of the estate, depending on the work); New Hampshire uses no fixed statutory percentage. Family executors often waive the fee. |
| Fee basis | reasonable |
| Appraisal / referee | Not used. New Hampshire does not appoint a state appraiser. The administrator files an inventory and may retain an appraiser for real estate or unusual assets. |
Worked example
On a $400,000 New Hampshire estate, there is no set formula; a probate court might approve roughly $8,000–$16,000 (about 2%–4%) for ordinary administration, and more where the estate involved a business, real-estate sales, or disputes. The estate's attorney fee is separate.
New Hampshire thresholds and deadlines
| Item | New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | New Hampshire has no fixed-dollar small-estate affidavit. Instead it offers a 'waiver of administration' under RSA §553:32 — available regardless of estate value when a sole beneficiary (or all beneficiaries) also serve as administrator, removing the inventory, bond, and accounting requirements. |
| Creditor claim period | Creditors generally must present claims within six months of the grant of administration under RSA ch. 556; suit cannot be brought in the first six months and must be filed within one year. |
| Typical duration | At least 6 months, because the creditor period runs six months from appointment; routine estates typically close in about 9 to 12 months. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | New Hampshire authorized a transfer-on-death deed under RSA ch. 563-D, effective January 1, 2025 (the state was the 20th to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act). Owners can now record a TOD deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes at death without probate. |
What passes outside New Hampshire probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — New Hampshire authorized a transfer-on-death deed under RSA ch. 563-D, effective January 1, 2025 (the state was the 20th to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act). Owners can now record a TOD deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes at death without probate.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: RSA §553:32; RSA ch. 556 (creditor claims); RSA ch. 563-D (transfer-on-death deed)
- State authority: New Hampshire Judicial Branch, Circuit Court Probate Division (courts.nh.gov)
- Small-estate procedure: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LVI/553/553-32.htm
- Creditor claim period: https://www.courts.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt471/files/documents/2021-07/creditorofestate.pdf
- Transfer-on-death deed: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/nhtoc/nhtoc-lvi.htm
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the New Hampshire court before relying on it.
The full New Hampshire guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in New Hampshire? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in New Hampshire? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in New Hampshire? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in New Hampshire — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in New Hampshire — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in New Hampshire? — execution requirements and pricing.
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This sheet sets out New Hampshire probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the New Hampshire courts or a licensed New Hampshire attorney.