How Do I Close the Estate in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's closing documents are generated by the court's own e-filing pathway; the builder does not produce a substitute.
Closing an estate in New Hampshire
The personal representative closes by a court-approved streamlined filing: a Waiver of Administration affidavit of administration (RSA 553:32), available when a sole heir/beneficiary serves as administrator or all beneficiaries assent, filed 6-12 months after appointment with no inventory, bond, or accounting; or a Motion for Summary Administration (RSA 553:33) filed no sooner than 6 months after appointment, which on the court's grant eliminates the final account and closes the estate. An estate that qualifies for neither closes by filing and settling its final account under RSA 554:26 and RSA 550:11. (RSA 553:32, 553:33.)
No sooner than 6 months after the administrator's appointment. A Waiver of Administration affidavit is filed no less than 6 months and no more than one year after appointment (RSA 553:32, I(b)); a Motion for Summary Administration may be filed not less than 6 months after appointment (RSA 553:33, II). Full administration is bounded by the 6-month creditor windows (RSA 556:1, 556:3). (RSA 553:32, I(b); RSA 553:33, II; RSA 556:1.)
The court closes the estate by order, and discharge comes with that order. The estate closes by court order/approval; New Hampshire has no operation-of-law termination of the appointment. On the streamlined default the court grants the Motion for Summary Administration and "shall close the estate and release the bond" (RSA 553:33, IV), or approves the affidavit of administration completing a Waiver of Administration (RSA 553:32, I(b)); on full administration the court settles/allows the final account after notice to beneficially interested persons (RSA 554:26; RSA 550:11). (RSA 553:32, I(b); RSA 553:33, IV; RSA 550:11.)
Frequently asked questions
The personal representative closes by a court-approved streamlined filing: a Waiver of Administration affidavit of administration (RSA 553:32), available when a sole heir/beneficiary serves as administrator or all beneficiaries assent, filed 6-12 months after appointment with no inventory, bond, or accounting; or a Motion for Summary Administration (RSA 553:33) filed no sooner than 6 months after appointment, which on the court's grant eliminates the final account and closes the estate. An estate that qualifies for neither closes by filing and settling its final account under RSA 554:26 and RSA 550:11. (RSA 553:32, 553:33.)
No sooner than 6 months after the administrator's appointment. A Waiver of Administration affidavit is filed no less than 6 months and no more than one year after appointment (RSA 553:32, I(b)); a Motion for Summary Administration may be filed not less than 6 months after appointment (RSA 553:33, II). Full administration is bounded by the 6-month creditor windows (RSA 556:1, 556:3). (RSA 553:32, I(b); RSA 553:33, II; RSA 556:1.)
No — New Hampshire does not require a settled final account to close on this route (RSA 553:32, I(a)).
The court closes the estate by order, and discharge comes with that order. The estate closes by court order/approval; New Hampshire has no operation-of-law termination of the appointment. On the streamlined default the court grants the Motion for Summary Administration and "shall close the estate and release the bond" (RSA 553:33, IV), or approves the affidavit of administration completing a Waiver of Administration (RSA 553:32, I(b)); on full administration the court settles/allows the final account after notice to beneficially interested persons (RSA 554:26; RSA 550:11). (RSA 553:32, I(b); RSA 553:33, IV; RSA 550:11.)
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