How to File Small Claims in New Hampshire: Complete 2026 Guide

To file small claims in New Hampshire, go to TurboCourt online, fill out the complaint, pay $90 to $145, and wait for your hearing date. New Hampshire handles claims up to $10,000. Claims over $5,000 go through mediation first. The whole process takes about 30 to 90 days.

Here is the big thing about New Hampshire: you must file online. No paper forms. No walking up to a clerk's window. Every case goes through TurboCourt. If that sounds hard, it is not. The system walks you through it. This guide covers every step.

What You Can Sue For in NH Small Claims

Small claims court in New Hampshire covers money disputes up to $10,000 (RSA 503). That means unpaid bills, broken contracts, security deposits, car damage, bad products, loans that never got paid back, and property damage.

What it does not cover: real estate fights. If a judge needs to decide who owns land or a building, go to Superior Court. Evictions go through a separate process under RSA 540. And the court can only give you money. It cannot force someone to do a specific thing.

NH Small Claims Court Limit and Fees

The New Hampshire small claims court limit is $10,000 (RSA 503:1). But the state splits that range into two tiers. Each tier has a different fee and different rules.

Up to $5,000: You pay $90 to file. Mediation is available but not required unless the court orders it.

$5,001 to $10,000: You pay $145 to file. Mediation is required under RSA 503:1(IV). You go to mediation first. Only if that fails does a judge hear your case.

Think about that. If your claim is $5,200, you pay $55 more AND go through mediation. Some people drop to $5,000 to skip both. That is a trade-off. You save time and money but give up $200.

Other costs:

If you win, the court usually adds your fees to the judgment. The other side pays them.

Cannot afford the fee? Submit Form NHJB-2296-S when you file. A judge looks at your income. Full or partial waivers are available.

The Jury Trial Transfer Trap

Most guides skip this. If your claim is over $1,500, the other side can ask for a jury trial within 5 business days (RSA 503:1). When that happens, your case moves to Superior Court.

That means formal rules. Discovery. Motions. Maybe a lawyer on the other side. The $105 transfer fee goes to the other party, but you deal with a longer, harder case.

This almost never happens. Most people would rather handle a 30-minute hearing than pay for a full court battle. But know the risk. Especially if you are suing a business with lawyers on staff. If your claim is under $1,500, the other side cannot ask for a jury trial at all.

Statute of Limitations in New Hampshire

You have a set window to file. Miss it and your case is gone. It does not matter how strong your proof is.

New Hampshire keeps it simple. Almost every civil claim has a 3-year deadline. Written deals, verbal deals, injury, property damage. All 3 years.

The clock starts when the harm happens. But if you could not have known about it right away, the clock starts when you find out (RSA 508:4, II). This matters. Say a contractor did bad work inside your walls. You do not find it for two years. Your 3-year clock starts when you found the damage, not when the work was done.

The 20-year period for sealed instruments covers formal documents signed under seal. Most small claims use the 3-year rule.

Pauses: If you were under 18 when the problem happened, the clock pauses until you turn 18 (RSA 508:7). If the other party left the state or hid assets, the clock pauses then too (RSA 508:8).

See our full guide to statutes of limitations in every state.

How to File Small Claims in NH: Step by Step

Step 1: Send a Demand Letter First

Before you file, send a written demand. Certified mail. Return receipt. Say what is owed, why, and give a 14 to 30 day deadline.

New Hampshire does not require this for most claims. But it helps two ways. First, many cases settle right here. A certified letter with a dollar amount makes people pay attention. Second, judges notice. Showing up with a mail receipt that proves you tried to fix this first looks good.

For deposit claims, cite RSA 540-A:7 and the 30-day return deadline in your letter. Landlords who see the statute tend to act fast.

Not sure how to write one? Here is a full guide.

Step 2: Find Your Court

New Hampshire has 10 circuit court districts. File in the district where you live OR where the other party lives. If they are out of state, file where they do business or where the problem happened.

Use the court finder at courts.nh.gov to look up your town. Here are the main courthouses:

Suing a business? Look up the legal name at sos.nh.gov first. If you sue a trade name but the real entity is an LLC, your judgment might not hold up.

Step 3: E-File Through TurboCourt

Every small claims case in New Hampshire must be filed online. No paper. No clerk's window.

Go to turbocourt.com/newhampshire. Create an account. The system walks you through each part:

Pay by credit or debit card. Once you submit, TurboCourt gives you a docket number and creates your official complaint with a summons.

Already have an older paper case you are collecting on? You can keep filing motions on paper for that one. Or ask to switch it to e-filing.

Step 4: Serve the Other Party

After you file, the other side needs to get the papers. Your options:

Ask your court after filing to learn which method they use. It varies by district.

Step 5: Go to Mediation (If Required)

Claims over $5,000 go to mediation first. A neutral person helps both sides talk it out. This is not optional (RSA 503:1(IV)). Only if mediation fails does a judge hear your case.

Claims under $5,000 skip mediation unless the court orders it. But New Hampshire has run a small claims mediation program since 2005. It works. Many cases settle here.

You can also ask for mediation on your own. Contact the New Hampshire Conflict Resolution Association or ask the court at your first hearing.

Step 6: Present Your Case

Small claims hearings are informal. No jury unless the other side asked for one. You talk. They talk. The judge decides.

Bring:

Be specific. "The contractor took $4,200 for a deck that was never built" beats "The contractor ripped me off." Dates, dollar amounts, and documents win cases.

Step 7: Collect Your Judgment

You won. The other side has 30 days to pay. After that, you can start collecting.

Payment hearing: Ask the court to bring the other party in for a financial review. The judge sets up a payment plan based on their income. If they do not show up, the court can issue an Order of Arrest. Yes, New Hampshire still has this. Most states got rid of it long ago. NH keeps it as a tool for people who ignore court orders. The arrest is for skipping the hearing, not for owing money.

Property lien: File a copy of the judgment at the Registry of Deeds in the county where they own property. The lien sticks to their home or land. They cannot sell or refinance until they pay you.

Wage garnishment: New Hampshire lets you take up to 25% of their paycheck or the amount over 50 times the minimum wage, whichever is less (RSA 512-A).

Here is the big one: NH judgments last 20 years. Most states cap it at 5 to 10 years. If someone owes you money and cannot pay now, you have two decades to wait.

Interest builds too. The State Treasurer sets the rate each year under RSA 336:1. For 2026, it is 5.7%. A $5,000 judgment earns $285 per year until paid.

New Hampshire Security Deposit Rules

Deposit fights are one of the most common small claims cases in NH. Here is what the law says:

If your landlord missed the 30-day deadline and did not give you a list of deductions, that is your case. File in small claims. Bring your lease, move-in and move-out photos, and any texts or emails about the deposit.

Full guide: How to get your security deposit back in any state.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

No. But lawyers are allowed in NH small claims court. That is different from states like Idaho where lawyers are banned.

Most people handle it on their own. But if the other side brings a lawyer, you can bring one too. For small claims under $1,500, you probably do not need one. For claims near $10,000, especially against a business, it might help to talk to a lawyer before your hearing.

Appeals

Either side can appeal within 30 days. The appeal goes to Superior Court. The case starts over from scratch (de novo). The person who appeals pays the filing fee.

This is rare. The cost and time of Superior Court usually is not worth it for small claims amounts. But the option is there if something went wrong at the hearing.

New Hampshire Small Claims FAQ

How much does it cost to file small claims in New Hampshire?

You pay $90 for claims up to $5,000 and $145 for claims from $5,001 to $10,000. Add $25 to $50 for sheriff service. If you win, these costs usually get added to the judgment.

How long does small claims court take in New Hampshire?

Most cases get a hearing in 30 to 90 days. Claims over $5,000 may take longer because mediation happens first. If the other side asks for a jury trial, the move to Superior Court adds months.

Can I file small claims online in New Hampshire?

You have to file online. New Hampshire requires it. Use TurboCourt at turbocourt.com/newhampshire. Paper forms are not accepted for new cases.

What is the time limit to file in New Hampshire?

Three years for most claims. That covers contracts, injury, and property damage (RSA 508:4). If you could not have known about the problem right away, the clock starts when you find out.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in New Hampshire?

No. Most people handle it on their own. Lawyers are allowed but not needed. TurboCourt walks you through the filing step by step.

Can the other side demand a jury trial?

Yes, for claims over $1,500. They must ask within 5 business days. The case moves to Superior Court and they pay the $105 transfer fee. This almost never happens, but it is a risk with bigger claims.

How long are judgments good for in New Hampshire?

Twenty years. That is one of the longest in the country. Interest adds up at 5.7% per year (the 2026 rate set by the State Treasurer).

Can a landlord be arrested for not returning a deposit in New Hampshire?

Not for the debt itself. But if a landlord loses in small claims and then skips a court-ordered payment hearing, the court can issue an Order of Arrest. The arrest is for ignoring the court, not for the money.

Take Action on Your NH Claim

You know the rules. You know the fees. You know which court to file in. Now do something about it.

If someone owes you money in New Hampshire, you have 3 years to act and 20 years to collect. You can start your case from your couch. And with mediation for bigger claims, many cases settle before they ever see a judge.

Most disputes settle with a demand letter before court is even needed. PettyLawsuit sends your Petty Notice right away with certified mail tracking. 70% of cases resolve without court. If yours does not, you will have the records you need to file.