Can you get your New Hampshire court filing fee waived?
New Hampshire decides fee waivers using 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. That gives you a number to compare against, but it is usually a presumption or one route of several, not a hard ceiling.
Compare your income
For a household of 1, 200% of the federal poverty guidelines is $31,920 a year ($2,660 a month). The guideline itself is $15,960.
Ways to qualify in New Hampshire
- Public benefits. Receiving TANF, State Supplement Program, Medicaid (Granite Advantage), SNAP, SSI, or NH Legal Assistance or 603 Legal Aid client counts toward qualifying, often without any income showing at all.
- Income. At or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size.
- Inability to pay. You explain your income, expenses and debts on a sworn form, and the court decides whether paying the fee would leave you unable to cover basic needs. This route has no income cutoff.
The statute itself sets no percentage. The 200% chart appears on the motion form under Administrative Order 2024-19. Filers over the chart can still qualify by attaching a financial affidavit.
What to file
New Hampshire uses the Motion to Reduce or Eliminate Fees (NHJB-3234-DFP). File it at the same time as your petition or response, not after.
This page explains how New Hampshire decides fee waivers. It is not legal advice, and it cannot tell you how a judge will rule on your case. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm.
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