Pro Se Judgment Collection in New Hampshire: Collecting Without a Lawyer

You Do Not Need a Lawyer to Collect

If you represented yourself through the small claims hearing, you can handle the collection process the same way. New Hampshire's post-judgment enforcement system is designed to be accessible to self-represented litigants. All filings go through TurboCourt (the Judicial Branch e-Court portal), forms are available at courts.nh.gov, and the procedures follow a structured sequence you can manage yourself.

That said, the court will not hold your hand. Clerks can explain rules and procedures but cannot give legal advice or tell you which enforcement tool to use. Choosing the right approach and filing correctly falls on you.

Your Enforcement Options at a Glance

After the 30-day appeal window passes without an appeal, you have several tools available:

Motion for Periodic Payments — The typical starting point. File Form NHJB-2364-DPe ($25) to get the debtor into court for a financial examination, leading to a court-ordered payment schedule. This also reveals the debtor's assets.

Writ of Trustee Process — Target the debtor's bank account. File through TurboCourt ($40) and the sheriff serves the writ on the bank. Non-exempt funds are frozen and eventually turned over to you.

Writ of Execution — Target personal property. File through TurboCourt ($40) and the sheriff levies on vehicles, equipment, or other non-exempt assets for auction.

Judgment Lien — Target real estate. Get a certified copy of the judgment ($10) and record it with the affidavit required by RSA 524:13 at the county Registry of Deeds. At recording, mail copies of the submitted documents by first-class mail to the debtor's address of record with the court, or to counsel if the debtor is represented. This secures the judgment against the debtor's non-exempt real estate for as long as suit may be maintained on the judgment.

Contempt Motion — When the debtor violates a court-ordered payment schedule. File Form NHJB-2423-DP (no fee) and the court holds a show cause hearing.

The Practical Sequence for Most Cases

Most self-represented creditors follow this path:

1. Wait for the 30-day appeal period to expire
2. Send a written payment demand with an accounting of principal, interest, and costs
3. File a Motion for Periodic Payments to discover the debtor's assets and get a payment order
4. If the debtor has bank accounts with non-exempt funds, file a Writ of Trustee Process
5. If the debtor owns real estate, record a judgment lien using the affidavit and first-class notice steps under RSA 524:13
6. If the debtor defaults on payments, file a contempt motion

Not every case needs every tool. A debtor who shows up to the hearing and starts making payments may resolve the judgment through periodic payments alone. A debtor who hides assets may require bank attachments and property seizure.

Business Entity Complications

If you are collecting on behalf of an LLC or corporation rather than as an individual, there is an extra step. Under RSA 503:11 and District Division Rule 1.3D, a non-attorney officer or employee representing the entity must file an Authorization for Representation (Form NHJB-2936-De), a corporate resolution, and the required affidavit with the court. Without these filings, the court will not let you proceed on behalf of the business.

When Hiring a Lawyer Makes Sense

For most small claims judgments under $10,000, hiring an attorney at rates between $250 and $400 per hour would cost more than the judgment is worth. The system is designed so you can do this yourself.

Consider legal help if the debtor's assets are complex (business interests, property in multiple states, trust arrangements), if you need to domesticate the judgment in another state because the debtor moved, or if the debtor has hired their own attorney and is actively contesting enforcement.

For the complete step-by-step enforcement roadmap — every form, every fee, every procedure — see our Collecting a Small Claims Judgment in New Hampshire guide.

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