Up to $10,000 · 3 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In New Hampshire, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims (Circuit Court – District Division), where you can sue for up to $10,000.
Your deadline: New Hampshire generally gives you 3 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $90 (About $90–$135 by amount, plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 503:1; deadlines: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: General civil limit 3 yrs for contract, property damage, and personal injury.
Suing for something else in New Hampshire: New Hampshire unpaid loan · New Hampshire property damage · New Hampshire unpaid rent · New Hampshire contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Maine ($6,000, 6 years) · Massachusetts ($7,000, 6 years) · Vermont ($5,000, 6 years).
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