Quick answer: generally yes — without a will granting an explicit power of sale, a formal motion for a license to sell is the default path. Run your own numbers in the New Hampshire probate real estate sale calculator.
A named rule just for this
A separate path exists for a will with its own power
Rule 107, "Sales Without License," addresses the alternative path — typically when the will itself grants the executor an explicit power of sale, letting the sale proceed without the formal license motion.
Why New Hampshire looks different from UPC states
New Hampshire has not adopted the Uniform Probate Code and instead maintains its own probate statutes under RSA Title LVI, which generally requires more court involvement for a real estate sale than the informal-administration default many UPC states use.
The license comes with its own paperwork afterward
Once a sale is approved under a license, Rule 106-B requires notification of the proceeds, and Rule 106-C requires a return — both follow-up filings tied specifically to a licensed sale, on top of the sale itself.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.
Each of New Hampshire's ten counties has its own Circuit Court Probate Division location, but these rules apply identically statewide.