For most Hillsborough County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.
For a Hillsborough County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the 9th Circuit - Probate Division. The two tools that keep a Hillsborough County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Register of Deeds, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Hillsborough County property passes through the 9th Circuit - Probate Division — even simple New Hampshire probates run 6+ months and start with $150 in filing fees.
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Hillsborough County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Register of Deeds during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.
Before recording, a New Hampshire transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentRSA 563-D:1 to 563-D:22Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded within 60 daysRSA 563-D:1 to 563-D:22Verified Aug 24, 2026View source of signing and before the owner's deathRSA 563-D:1 to 563-D:22Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Deeds and other real property documents for Hillsborough County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Register of Deeds Dennis C. Hogan, at 19 Temple Street, Nashua, NH 03060. Phone: 603-882-6933. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:45 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 370, Nashua, NH 03061-0370.
The Register of Deeds charges $12 for the first page plus $4 for each additional page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Hillsborough County comes to $41, which is $16 in recording fees plus the $25 LCHIP Surcharge (Land and Community Heritage Investment Program). A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Hillsborough County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, Indecomm, ePN.
Recording Office Record
Hillsborough County · Register of Deeds · Dennis C. Hogan
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $12 |
| Each additional page | $4 |
| LCHIP Surcharge (Land and Community Heritage Investment Program)Applies to a TOD deed | $25 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
RSA 478:17-g; RSA 478:17-j; RSA 78-B:1; RSA 78-B:2; RSA 78-B:4
Verified September 7, 2026 · Source
Solo PracticeNashua, NH
Nashua-based practice offering estate planning services including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and irrevocable trusts. Attorney Annutto is licensed in both NH and MA state and federal courts.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more
Solo PracticeManchester, NH
Manchester practice serving Hillsborough and Merrimack County families (and Massachusetts), focused on estate planning, probate, and trust administration. Handles wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate and trust estate administration, asset protection, and adult guardianships. Offers a free consultation.
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Solo PracticeHampton, NH
Estate planning firm serving the Seacoast and southern New Hampshire with offices in Hampton, Windham, Concord, and New London. Candice O'Neil brings nearly 20 years of estate planning experience and formerly served as a NH State Representative.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness SuccessionPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more
Solo PracticeSalem, NH
Comprehensive elder law and estate planning firm serving southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. Daniel DeBruyckere has practiced in NH and MA since 1998 and is a past president of the Greater Salem Bar Association.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
FirmNashua, NH
Nashua firm practicing in the Hillsborough County probate court and serving surrounding southern New Hampshire towns since 1978. Handles probate administration and estate distribution, will and trust contests, guardianships and conservatorships, and elder-law and long-term-care planning. Offers a free, confidential consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbatePowers Of AttorneyRetirement Planningand 2 more
FirmNashua, NH
The oldest law firm in Nashua, practicing before the Hillsborough County probate court since 1889. Estate Planning and Probate is one of its named practice areas, covering probate and trust administration and contested estate matters alongside wills and trusts. Absorbed Smith-Weiss Shepard & Kanakis, PC, whose attorneys now practice from the Nashua and Portsmouth offices.
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Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from New Hampshire statutes and official state code. How we research.
Estate planning articles for New Hampshire.
Forms and tools for property owners in Hillsborough County.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Create a free, state-specific will with witness and notarization requirements included.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate.
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs.
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate ownership, marital status, and family situation to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone. Includes estimated probate costs for your state.
Answer questions about your property type, ownership structure, and estate plan to see if a TOD deed is the right approach. Includes state-specific availability, signing requirements, and recording fees.
Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
Estate planning articles for New Hampshire.
