Probate in Rockingham County

Probate Court Record

Rockingham County 10th Circuit - Probate Division

Rockingham County · 10th Circuit

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

Office

10 Route 125, Brentwood, NH 03833

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Rockingham County →

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Rockingham County? →Settling an estate in Rockingham County →

Elder Law Firms Serving Rockingham County

Bedford firm serving Hillsborough, Rockingham, and Merrimack County families, in estate and trust practice since 1994. Handles testate and intestate probate administration, trust administration with beneficiary accountings, and federal estate, gift, and fiduciary income tax returns.

Since 1994Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawTax PlanningCharitable Planning

Amherst firm serving Hillsborough County families, with a second office in Concord. Handles estate planning, probate and trust administration, and elder-law and Medicaid planning. Peter Moustakis has served on the board of the New Hampshire chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Offers a free initial consultation for estate planning.

Since 2020Free consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planning+2

Solo practice in Franklin, in central New Hampshire near the Merrimack County probate court, working statewide from that one office. Handles estate planning and probate administration, and travels to the county registries of deeds and probate for clients elsewhere in the state. Attorney James N. Sessler has practiced since 1977.

Solo PracticeSince 1977Serves the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipWills

All 10 New Hampshire elder law firms serving Rockingham County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in New Hampshire

Free New Hampshire forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for New Hampshire.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

New Hampshire allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2RSA 137-J:20Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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Financial Power of Attorney

New Hampshire treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultRSA 564-E:104, 564-E:105, 564-E:106, 564-E:107, 564-E:109, 564-E:113, 564-E:114, 564-E:119, 564-E:120, 564-E:201, 564-E:217, 564-E:301; RSA 477:9Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notaryRSA 564-E:104, 564-E:105, 564-E:106, 564-E:107, 564-E:109, 564-E:113, 564-E:114, 564-E:119, 564-E:120, 564-E:201, 564-E:217, 564-E:301; RSA 477:9Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.

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Last Will and Testament

In New Hampshire, a will is signed before 2NH RSA 551:2Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyNH RSA 551:2Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in New Hampshire

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in New Hampshire: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool.

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable trust in New Hampshire runs $3,360Estimate: 10 hours at $336, Clio's New Hampshire Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,040Estimate: 15 hours at $336, Clio's New Hampshire Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,080Estimate: 3 hours at $360, Clio's New Hampshire Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,160Estimate: 6 hours at $360, Clio's New Hampshire Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

Calculate Costs

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

In New Hampshire, four years at a public university cost about $120,152NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is near the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; no state estate or inheritance tax appliesNo state estate or inheritance tax. The inheritance tax (RSA Ch. 86, Legacy & Succession Tax) was repealed outright for deaths on or after 1/1/2003 ("Repealed 2002, 232:14, II, eff. Jan. 1, 2003."). The estate tax (RSA Ch. 87) remains codified but is void by its own terms: RSA 87:9 ("Chapter Void, When.") provides that "[t]his chapter shall become void and of no effect in respect to the estates of persons who die subsequent to the effective date of the repeal of ... that portion of such provisions that allow a credit for state death taxes against the decedent’s federal estate tax." The IRC § 2011 credit was terminated for decedents dying after 12/31/2004 (replaced by the § 2058 deduction, Pub. L. 107-16 § 532(d)) and § 2011 was formally repealed by Pub. L. 113-295 (Dec. 19, 2014), so no New Hampshire estate tax is due for deaths on or after 1/1/2005.Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

Calculate the Amount

What Are the Estate Laws in My State?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in New Hampshire costs an estimated $26,585NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 2%Modeled estimate under NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%Modeled estimate under NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.

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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in New Hampshire takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2%Modeled estimate under NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%Modeled estimate under NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

New Hampshire does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceRSA 551:13; RSA 563-D:14Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.

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