New Hampshire allows executors "reasonable compensation" — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payNH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation determined by court; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026. Executors can also waive their fee entirely or accept a reduced amount. When the executor is a family member who is also a beneficiary, waiving the fee is common because beneficiary distributions aren't taxed as income while executor fees are. See the New Hampshire executor fee calculator.

Estate planning attorneys in New Hampshire average $360 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $1,080–$2,160 for a simple individual will and $3,360–$5,040 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.

New Hampshire requires nearly all estates to go through formal probate. Most families retain an attorney for this — the procedural overhead is what counsel is there to absorb. Living trusts are the most common workaround for families that want to skip the process entirely.

In New Hampshire, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.