What's Involved in Settling a New Hampshire Estate? - Cocheco Elder Law Associates PLLC

Estates are settled in very similar manners throughout all different states but there are specific details associated with New Hampshire, such as which forms need to be filled out and deadlines to be followed.

If you are involved in a New Hampshire estate or have recently been informed that you will be appointed in such a role, it’s important to educate yourself about these expectations so that you are clear about your responsibilities and rights. The first step is to file a will and petition for probate in the county court in which the decedent lived or owned property if they lived out of state.

An administrator or executor must be appointed to handle the New Hampshire probate case. The executor plays a crucial role in estate administration because they take all of the inventory of assets inside the estate, including extra steps like appraising them if necessary. This is followed by publishing notice in a local newspaper to allow creditors time to submit claims against the estate.

Any taxes owed must be paid in addition to the filing of proper tax returns. There are priority orders for how claims must be paid in New Hampshire, and this is why many executors choose to work directly with probate lawyers. You can make things easier for your loved ones by having an inventory of your estate and proper estate planning in place. This will make it that much easier for your estate executor to step into this role.

Ready to work through NH estate planning? Set up a meeting with our office.