Provides legal services in estate planning, probate, and trust administration to clients in the Lakes Region. Kristen Gardiner has over 30 years of experience in transactional real estate and estate planning across multiple states.
Probate in Coös County
Probate Court Record
Coös County 1st Circuit - Probate Division
Coös County · 1st Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
55 School Street, Suite 104, Lancaster, NH 03584
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Coös County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Coös County? →Settling an estate in Coös County →
Estate Law Firms Serving Coös County
Founded in 1990, recognizing that northern New Hampshire needed a law firm offering services in commercial transactions, real estate, and estate planning and administration. Located about a half-hour drive from both the Grafton and Coos county seats.
One of the oldest continuously operating law firms in New Hampshire, tracing its roots to 1846. Blends modern technology with more than 165 years of respected legal services throughout the North Country, serving Grafton and Coos Counties.
Plymouth practice serving Grafton, Coos, Carroll, and Belknap County families since 1985. Attorneys Ora Schwartzberg and Christopher M. West build trust-based plans that keep a home out of probate and out of a court-supervised guardianship, plus durable powers of attorney and health care proxies. Meets by video conference for clients across northern New Hampshire.
A growing firm with statewide coverage. Andrew Winters leads estate planning, with over 20 years of legal experience. The firm uses licensed legal software for document assembly and provides secure digital lifetime access to estate planning documents.
Long-established Manchester firm with Concord and Portsmouth offices, serving New Hampshire families through the state's probate courts. Handles probate administration of estates and trust administration, and represents estates and trusts before the IRS and NH Department of Revenue on estate and gift tax matters. The estate group is led by firm president Anu Mullikin.
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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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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Free
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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Free
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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Free
Pour-Over Will
In New Hampshire, a pour-over will is signed before 2NH RSA 551:2Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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Free
Transfer on Death Deed
In New Hampshire, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryRSA 563-D:1 to 563-D:22Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathRSA 563-D:1 to 563-D:22Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, within 60 daysRSA 563-D:1 to 563-D:22Verified Oct 19, 2026View source of signing. New Hampshire does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
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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.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In New Hampshire, a will-based plan pays probate 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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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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How Much Does Probate Cost?
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. Attorney fees run 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 under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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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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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in New Hampshire: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysRSA 554:1, 554:26-aVerified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsRSA §§ 553:16, 554:19, 556:1, 556:2, 556:3, 556:5, 556:29Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
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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.
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