New Hampshire Inheritance: Plan an Estate or Settle One

New Hampshire has not adopted the Uniform Probate Code, has enacted the Uniform Trust CodeRSA 564-B:1-101 et seq.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source, and has adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney ActRSA 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 Sep 18, 2026View source.

Probate of a simple estate in New Hampshire runs 6 months to 9 months; an average estate takes 9 months to 15 months. The court filing fee is $150 - $305 (based on estate value)NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 169(I)(c), (j), (k) (verified 2026-09-08)Verified Sep 8, 2026; attorney fees are reasonable compensationNH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source; executor compensation typically runs 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. On a $500,000 estate the estimated total comes to $26,585NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. The personal representative must post a bondRSA 553:13Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, which the will may waiveRSA 553:13Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

Certified death certificates come from the New Hampshire Secretary of State - Division of Vital Records AdministrationNew Hampshire Secretary of State - Division of Vital Records AdministrationVerified Sep 1, 2026View source at $15New Hampshire Secretary of State - Division of Vital Records AdministrationVerified Sep 1, 2026View source a copy, $10New Hampshire Secretary of State - Division of Vital Records AdministrationVerified Sep 1, 2026View source for each additional copy ordered with it. Processing time: 20 business days for mail requests; same-day in personNew Hampshire Secretary of State - Division of Vital Records AdministrationVerified Sep 1, 2026View source. Once appointed, the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysRSA 554:1, 554:26-aVerified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment and publishes the notice to creditors for 2RSA §§ 553:16, 554:19, 556:1, 556:2, 556:3, 556:5, 556:29Verified Sep 15, 2026View source consecutive weeks.

A surviving spouse left out of the will can elect to take a statutory share insteadRSA 560:10-560:14Verified Sep 15, 2026View source. Property left to a minor under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act is released at 21 yearsRSA 463-A:20Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of age. New Hampshire has no state income taxN.H. RSA Ch. 77 (Taxation of Incomes) — "[Repealed by 2021, 91:99, II, eff. Jan. 1, 2025.]"Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, so an inheritance and the income it earns are taxed only federally.