State guide
New Hampshire
New Hampshire adult guardianship of an incapacitated person is handled in the Probate Division of the New Hampshire Circuit Court and is e-filed. New Hampshire has a separate supported decision-making chapter that expressly recognizes it as a less restrictive alternative to guardianship for adults with disabilities.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship petitions are handled by the Probate Division of the New Hampshire Circuit Court.
- What it's called
- guardian over the person and guardian over the estate.
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- $240.00.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- New Hampshire has a supported decision-making law, and court materials also reference durable power of attorney and living will documents when filing a guardianship case.
- Law
- RSA 464-A; supported decision-making: RSA 464-D.
Official resources in New Hampshire
Official overview of adult guardianship standards, e-filing steps, burden of proof, and information center contact.
Official filing-start checklist describing required documents and the published filing fee.
Official glossary-style overview of guardianship over person, estate, and person and estate.
Official guardianship chapter for incapacitated persons.
Official supported decision-making chapter recognizing a less restrictive alternative to guardianship.
Key facts for New Hampshire
- Probate Division has jurisdiction over adult guardianships in New Hampshire.
- Guardianships can be over the person, over the estate, or over the person and estate.
- The published filing fee for guardianship of an incapacitated person is $240.00.
- Electronic filing is mandatory unless the filer receives an e-filing exception.
- RSA 464-D says supported decision-making is a less restrictive alternative to guardianship for adults with disabilities.
County court guardianship pages in New Hampshire
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| NH Judicial Branch Information Center Merrimack | Concord | Not published* | Court information center listed on New Hampshire guardianship materials; hours published as Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| 9th Circuit - Probate Division - Nashua Hillsborough | Nashua | Not published* | Probate division location shown for Hillsborough County legal probate notices. |
| 10th Circuit - Probate Division - Brentwood Rockingham | Brentwood | Not published* | Probate division location shown for Rockingham County filings; official court documents print the statewide court telephone number. |
| NH Judicial Branch - Guardianship of Incapacitated Person e-Filing Instructions | Not published* | Not published* | Official self-help filing instructions and checklist for opening an adult guardianship case. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Start in the e-filing system and gather the release authorizations and any power of attorney or living will before beginning the guided interview.
- Be prepared to show there is no less restrictive solution available, because the petitioner must prove that point along with incapacity.
- If you have questions while preparing the case, use the NH Judicial Branch Information Center during its posted weekday hours.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from New Hampshire's population center, for comparison only):
- York County Registry of Probate, Maine · about 46 miles
- Middlesex Probate and Family Court South - Woburn, Massachusetts · about 52 miles
- Middlesex Probate and Family Court virtual registry, Massachusetts · about 52 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.NH Judicial Branch - E-Filing New Hampshire: Guardianships of Incapacitated Persons
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the New Hampshire page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.