New Hampshire Small Claims Court
Owed money in New Hampshire? Here's the dollar limit, the court that hears it, what filing costs — and a free demand letter to send first, which resolves many disputes without a case. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
New Hampshire small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $10,000
- Court
- Small Claims (Circuit Court — District Division)
- Filing fee
- approx. $125 (claims ≤$5,000) / $180 (over) per the 2025 schedule — confirm with the Circuit Court clerk (older guides still show $90/$145)
- Lawyers at the hearing
- Allowed — either party may be represented by an attorney; representation is not required
Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. (RSA) 503:1 · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Small Claims (Circuit Court — District Division) clerk before filing.
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How to file in New Hampshire — the short version
- Demand first. Send the letter above by a trackable method and keep proof — judges expect it, and it often gets you paid without a case.
- File with the Small Claims (Circuit Court — District Division) where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: approx. $125 (claims ≤$5,000) / $180 (over) per the 2025 schedule — confirm with the Circuit Court clerk (older guides still show $90/$145).
- Serve the defendant the way New Hampshire rules require (clerk, sheriff, certified mail, or process server — ask the clerk). Bad service is the #1 way cases get thrown out.
- Bring evidence: contracts, invoices, photos, messages, this demand letter and its delivery proof, and any witnesses.
- Collect. If you win and they don't pay, ask the clerk about garnishment, levy, and liens.
Check the current New Hampshire small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in New Hampshire small claims court?
The limit is $10,000 (as of 2026). $10,000 or less, exclusive of interest and costs (RSA 503:1); claims involving title to real estate are excluded. Plaintiffs with larger claims may voluntarily waive the excess to fit under the cap. Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. (RSA) 503:1. If you're owed more, you can sue in the regular civil court instead — or waive the excess and stay in small claims, which is usually faster and cheaper.
Where do I file?
In New Hampshire, small claims cases are heard by the Small Claims (Circuit Court — District Division), generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: approx. $125 (claims ≤$5,000) / $180 (over) per the 2025 schedule — confirm with the Circuit Court clerk (older guides still show $90/$145). Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In New Hampshire: Allowed — either party may be represented by an attorney; representation is not required. Either way, small claims procedure is deliberately informal — you present your story, your documents, and your witnesses directly to the judge.
What happens if I win but they don't pay?
A judgment isn't a check — if the defendant doesn't pay voluntarily, you enforce it: wage garnishment, bank levy, or property liens, depending on New Hampshire law. The court clerk can point you to the forms. Judgments also accrue interest and stay enforceable for years, so a stubborn debtor doesn't run out the clock quickly.
How does New Hampshire compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How New Hampshire compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for New Hampshire: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. (RSA) 503:1 ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $10,000, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 15 other states.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — Maine ($10,000), Massachusetts ($7,000), Vermont ($10,000).
The rest of what New Hampshire requires
The figures below are New Hampshire's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full New Hampshire page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 1 month's rent or $100 (whichever is greater) N.H. Rev. Stat. §540-A:6 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out N.H. Rev. Stat. §540-A:6 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days N.H. Rev. Stat. §540-A:6 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 7 days to pay or quit RSA 540:2, 540:3 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 30 days RSA 540:2, 540:3 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit New Hampshire General Court ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required New Hampshire DMV (Form TDMV 22A) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required N.H. Rev. Stat. §564-E:105 (form §564-E:301) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules N.H. RSA 304-C:16 (definition); RSA 304-C:40 (form) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- Register of Deeds (county registry of deeds) · no witnesses NH RSA 477:3 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More New Hampshire legal forms
- New Hampshire Bill of Sale
- New Hampshire Residential Lease Agreement
- New Hampshire Eviction Notice
- New Hampshire Power of Attorney
- New Hampshire Rental Application
- New Hampshire Demand Letter
- New Hampshire Security Deposit Demand Letter
- New Hampshire Quitclaim Deed
- New Hampshire LLC Operating Agreement
Different state? See small claims rules by state →