Small claims court is intended to be a simple, speedy, and informal procedure to sue for money. Attorneys are allowed to handle small claims cases but more often parties represent themselves. In New Hampshire, small claims cases are filed in the District Division of the Circuit Court. The court's website has extensive information about small claims including definitions, checklists, forms, and electronic filing (e-filing) information. The website is confusing. There's a lot of information spread over several pages and the names of instructions and forms aren't always consistent from place to place. We hope that the links below will help you navigate the site. If you have a question and can't find the answer on the website, email us at lawlibrary@courts.state.nh.us or contact the Court Information Center at 1-855-212-1234.
"Effective July 1, 2015, a person or entity may sue any person or business whom it is alleged owes $10,000.00 or less or who has caused damage of $10,000.00 or less. Any claim in excess of $5,000 is subject to mandatory mediation. If the claim is over $1500, the Defendant may request a jury trial."
If you have obtained a money judgment from a New Hampshire court against someone who lives out-of-state, you will need to "register" or "domesticate" your New Hampshire order in that state. There is a uniform law called the Unified Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (UEFJA) that most, but not all, states have adopted.
This site is maintained by the law librarians of the John W. King New Hampshire Law Library.
Our guides are for information purposes only and are not comprehensive.
They are intended as starting points for your legal research, to illustrate the various sources of the law, and to provide guidance in their use.
NH Law About ... is not a substitute for the services of an attorney.