New Hampshire Small Claims Filing Fee: 2026 Costs Breakdown
Entry Fees by Claim Amount
New Hampshire small claims filing fees are set by District Division Rule 3.3 and RSA 503:4. The amount you pay depends on the size of your claim:
| Claim amount | Base fee | Electronic case filing surcharge | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 or less | $105 | $20 | $125 |
| $5,001 – $10,000 | $160 | $20 | $180 |
The $10,000 ceiling is the jurisdictional maximum for small claims in New Hampshire. Interest and court costs do not count toward that cap, but the principal damages you claim cannot exceed it.
All fees are paid online when you file through TurboCourt. Credit and debit card payments carry a non-refundable electronic processing surcharge on top of the statutory fee.
Counterclaim Fees
If the defendant files a counterclaim, they pay a separate filing fee based on their counterclaim amount:
- $5,000 or less: $105
- $5,001 – $10,000: $160
Counterclaim fees do not include the $20 electronic case filing surcharge, which applies to the original claim.
Post-Judgment and Enforcement Fees
Winning the case is not the last fee you might pay. Post-judgment motions carry their own costs:
- Motion for Periodic Payments: $25 — used to bring the debtor back to court for a payment plan hearing
- Writ of Execution: $40 — authorizes the county sheriff to levy the debtor's bank accounts or personal property
- Ex Parte Attachment / Trustee Process: $40
- Reissued Orders of Notice: $25 — needed when the court has to re-serve a post-judgment notice
Sheriff service fees for executing a writ vary by county and travel distance. Registry of Deeds recording fees apply if you file a judgment lien on the debtor's property.
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Jury Trial Transfer Fee
If the claim exceeds $1,500, the defendant can demand a jury trial under RSA 503:1, III. The party requesting the transfer pays $145 to move the case from District Division to Superior Court. Superior Court then charges its own entry fees.
Fee Waivers — Harder to Get Than You Think
Small claims fee waivers in New Hampshire require a showing of "extraordinary circumstances" under District Division Rule 4.1(a)(3). Standard indigency — which qualifies litigants for waivers in regular civil cases — is not automatically enough. You must file an electronic Motion to Waive Filing Fee through TurboCourt with itemized proof of income, assets, liabilities, and exceptional hardship.
Even when granted, a fee waiver covers only court entry fees. Sheriff service costs, Registry of Deeds recording fees, and electronic processing charges are not included.
The Bottom Line on Costs
For a straightforward small claim under $5,000, expect to pay $125 out of pocket to file. A claim between $5,001 and $10,000 runs $180. If the case goes to judgment and the debtor does not pay voluntarily, enforcement motions add $25 to $40 per step, plus whatever the sheriff charges.
Our New Hampshire filing guide includes a cost worksheet that helps you estimate total expenses — filing fees, service costs, and enforcement — before you commit to the case.
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