For anyone planning an estate in New Hampshire or settling one: what a will or trust costs, whether an estate needs probate, what executors and trustees are paid, and the taxes on an inheritance, each answered under New Hampshire law.
36 tools for New Hampshire
Probate in New Hampshire takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2%NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
New Hampshire authorizes transfer on death deedsRSA 563-D:1 to 563-D:22Verified Jul 15, 2026: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
New Hampshire does not offer a transfer-on-death designation on a vehicle title; a vehicle passes by will, trust, joint title, or 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.
In New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Circuit Court, Probate Division appoints the personal representative and the Circuit Court Probate Division clerk issues Certificate of Appointment; every appointment goes through the courtRSA 552:6; RSA 553:2Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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.
When an estate owes more than it holds, New Hampshire pays the claims in 6RSA 554:19Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with costs and expenses of administration of the estate.
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
Compare trust-account requirements bank by bank: how a revocable trust account is opened or retitled, and what proves the trust.
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
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state income tax, so only the federal final Form 1040 is due for the decedentN.H. RSA Ch. 77 (Taxation of Incomes) — "[Repealed by 2021, 91:99, II, eff.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.
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
In New Hampshire, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2%NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%NH Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 (reasonable compensation for work, responsibility, and risk; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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 Sep 15, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
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 Jul 15, 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.
After a death in New Hampshire, the estate goes through probate unless it fits a simplified procedure, where creditors have 6 monthsRSA 556:3Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.