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New Hampshire Small Estate Checker

$10,000 — a threshold so low that most estates here end up in full probate, unlike almost anywhere else in the country.

RSA 553:32, 553:33 FigureMyTax Editorial Team Free · no sign-up

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · Reviewed 2026 · How we calculate

Does this New Hampshire estate qualify?

Enter the personal property value to see whether the waiver process likely fits.

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Likely path for this New Hampshire estate
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How do I actually file? →
Facing probate in New Hampshire?

A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.

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$10,000 — far below the national median

Confirmed current: New Hampshire sets its small estate threshold at $10,000. For context, the national median small estate threshold is $75,000 — New Hampshire's threshold is lower than average, so more estates will require the formal probate process.

No waiting period at all

Unlike most states, which require 30 days or longer, the waiting period here is 0 days after death — the process is available immediately, which avoids the need for formal probate and significantly reduces time and cost for the smallest estates.

No fee allowed, not even a reduced one

Under the voluntary administration process for small estates, no fee at all is allowed. That's not a reduced fee; it's the absence of one, and it applies only within this simplified track rather than to administration generally.

A second, distinct small-estate mechanism

RSA 553:33 provides a separate Summary Administration process, distinct from the RSA 553:32 waiver-of-administration threshold — two different named mechanisms, not one combined shortcut.

Real property still needs the standard process

This process is built around personal property; real property generally still requires the standard probate process, including a formal license to sell if the house needs to be sold.

New Hampshire small estate — frequently asked questions

What is New Hampshire's small estate threshold?

$10,000 in personal property, under RSA 553:32's Waiver of Administration — among the lowest small estate thresholds in the country, well below the roughly $75,000 national median.

How long must you wait to use this process?

There's no waiting period at all — the process is available immediately, 0 days after death, unlike the 30-day or longer waits many other states require.

Can the executor charge a fee under this process?

No — under the voluntary administration process for small estates, no fee at all is allowed. That's not a reduced fee; it's the absence of one, and it applies only within this simplified track.

Is there a separate small estate mechanism besides Waiver of Administration?

Yes — RSA 553:33 provides a distinct Summary Administration process, separate from the RSA 553:32 waiver-of-administration threshold.

Does this process reach real property?

No — it's built around personal property, and real property generally still requires the standard probate process, including a license to sell if the house needs to be sold.

New Hampshire small estate tools & guides

If full probate is needed instead, it's filed with the Circuit Court Probate Division in the decedent's own county.

New Hampshire Small Estate: How-ToFiling the waiver, step by step Do I Need Probate in New Hampshire?Why most estates here still need it Transferring a Car in New Hampshire Without ProbateUsing the process at the DMV New Hampshire Probate Cost CalculatorIf this estate needs full probate New Hampshire Probate Real Estate Sale CalculatorSelling the house instead Estate Value CalculatorWhat actually counts toward the total

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on RSA 553:32, 553:33. Actual eligibility depends on the estate's full facts. Confirm with the Circuit Court Probate Division or a licensed New Hampshire attorney before acting.