Solo practitioner in Laconia serving the Lakes Region with over 30 years of legal experience. Licensed in New Hampshire, Maine, and federal courts for NH, ME, and VT. U.S. Navy veteran with 5 years active duty and 22 years reserve service.
Gilford is in Belknap County.
More Probate Firms in Belknap County
Laconia firm serving the Lakes Region and Belknap County through the local probate court. Handles probate representation, trust administration, and guardianships alongside estate planning, real estate, and business work. Attorney Susanne Chisholm has practiced estate planning and probate in New Hampshire since 1994.
Laconia general-practice firm at the Belknap County seat, in practice since 1976. Lists probate among its practice areas alongside real estate, title examination, civil litigation, and creditor representation, so an estate's real property transfer and any creditor dispute are handled in one office. Attorneys William Philpot, Jr. and Charles W. Gallagher have practiced here since the 1980s.
Committed to achieving outstanding results since 1914. Estate Planning and Probate Practice Group provides full range of legal services for residents and businesses throughout Belknap, Carroll, Grafton, and Merrimack counties.
Concord firm in practice since 1908, with offices in Peterborough, Portsmouth, Laconia, and Lancaster reaching families across the state. Handles probate and trust administration alongside wills, trusts, and elder-law and business-succession planning. Took in Martin, Lord & Osman, P.A. in 2025, adding its Laconia and Lancaster estate and probate attorneys.
Probate in Belknap County
Probate Court Record
Belknap County 4th Circuit - Probate Division
Belknap County · 4th Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
26 Academy Street, Laconia, NH 03246
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Belknap County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Belknap County? →Settling an estate in Belknap 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.
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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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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.
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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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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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
New Hampshire pays executors reasonable compensationNH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation determined by court; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
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Do I Need Probate?
New Hampshire sets no dollar limit for its Waiver of AdministrationNH Probate Div. Rule 88 (fees), NH Probate Div. Rule 169 (filing feesVerified Sep 8, 2026View source; eligibility turns on other tests.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In New Hampshire, creditors have 6 monthsRSA 556:3Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from the personal representative's appointment to present claims; late claims are barred.
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Can I Self-File Probate?
New Hampshire has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableRSA 552:6; RSA 553:2Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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