Quick answer: Opening an estate in New Hampshire costs a Probate Division filing fee that starts around $150 for the Petition for Estate Administration. Publication and bond are extra, though both can be reduced or eliminated depending on the estate. See the full picture in the New Hampshire probate cost calculator.
Probate Division fees
| Item | Approx. fee |
|---|---|
| Petition for Estate Administration | ~$150+ |
| Publication of notice to creditors | ~$55 (waived if estate ≤ $10,000) |
| Certified copies | A few dollars each |
Confirm the exact fee with your county Probate Division, per Rule 169.
Other administration costs
- Bond — required by default (§ 553:13); an estate of $25,000 or less needs only a personal bond without sureties; above that, a corporate surety bond is typical unless the will or the court waives it; eliminated entirely under Waiver of Administration.
- Appraisal — if real estate or a business must be valued (no appraiser required by statute for the inventory itself).
- Administrator & attorney fees — the real variables, both reasonable amounts under Probate Division Rule 88, no fixed percentage.
Not the big cost: the filing fee is small next to the administrator and attorney fees. New Hampshire has no estate or inheritance tax, so there's no death-tax layer on top.
Ways to keep costs down
- Waiver of Administration (RSA § 553:32) — if a sole beneficiary/heir serves, or all beneficiaries/heirs serve or consent, drops the inventory, bond, and accounting at any estate size.
- Summary Administration (§ 553:33) — skips the final account once 6 months have passed and everyone consents.
- Ask the Probate Division for the current fee schedule so you budget the exact amount.