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 →
Trust Administration 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.
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.
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.
New Hampshire's largest firm, anchored in Manchester with Concord and Portsmouth offices, serving estates and trusts statewide. The Trusts and Estates group handles probate of estates, trust administration, will and trust contests, guardianships and conservatorships, and fiduciary-duty claims, alongside estate and gift tax planning.
Providing experienced legal representation throughout New Hampshire and Northern New England for more than 40 years. Handles full range of trust, estate, probate, and guardianship matters.
All 10 New Hampshire trust administration firms serving Coös 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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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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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 Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in New Hampshire happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeRSA 564-B:1-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysRSA 564-B:8-813, RSA 564-B:10-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
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What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In New Hampshire, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)RSA 564-B:7-708; RSA 564-B:7-709; RSA 564-B:7-710; RSA 564:21; NH Prob. Div. R. 88Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.
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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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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
New Hampshire has no state income tax, so only the federal final Form 1040 is due for the decedentN.H. RSA Ch. 77 (Taxation of Incomes) — "[Repealed by 2021, 91:99, II, eff. Jan. 1, 2025.]"Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in New Hampshire take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces no state capital gains taxNH RSA ch. 77 (Taxation of Incomes — Interest & Dividends Tax) — "Chapter 77 Repealed – Entire Chapter was repealed [Repealed by 2021, 91:99, II, eff. Jan. 1, 2025.]"Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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