How to file small claims in New Hampshire

Sue for up to $10,000 in the Small Claims (Circuit Court – District Division); filing fee around $90.

New Hampshire's Circuit Court District Division hears small claims up to $10,000, with a uniform three-year deadline for most claims.

• Dollar limit: $10,000
• Filing fee: $90 — About $90–$135 by amount, plus service.
• Where to file: Small Claims (Circuit Court – District Division)
• Lawyers at the hearing: allowed

1. Confirm your claim is at or under the dollar limit and within the statute of limitations for your claim type.
2. Send a written demand letter first — most courts expect it, and it often gets you paid without filing.
3. Get the correct filing form (often a "Statement of Claim" or "Plaintiff's Claim") from the Small Claims session clerk or the court's website.
4. File the form with the Small Claims session for the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened, and pay the filing fee.
5. Arrange service of process so the defendant is officially notified (by the sheriff, certified mail, or a process server, per local rules).
6. Gather your evidence — contract, texts, photos, receipts, the demand letter — and bring organized copies to your hearing.
7. Show up on your court date and present your case; if you win, ask the judge how to collect the judgment.

What are you suing for?

• Suing for unpaid loan in New Hampshire: 3 years to file
• Suing for security deposit in New Hampshire: 3 years to file
• Suing for property damage in New Hampshire: 3 years to file
• Suing for unpaid rent in New Hampshire: 3 years to file
• Suing for contractor dispute in New Hampshire: 3 years to file

Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 503:1. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).

Nearby states: Maine ($6,000) · Massachusetts ($7,000) · Vermont ($5,000).

General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.

Updated July 2026