How long you have in New Hampshire
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.
| Kind of claim | Window | Counted from | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | 3 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | RSA 508:4 |
| Unpaid Loan | 3 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | RSA 508:4 |
| Contractor Dispute | 3 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | RSA 508:4 |
| Auto Repair | 3 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | RSA 508:4 |
| Security Deposit | 3 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | RSA 508:4 |
| Other | 3 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | RSA 508:4 |
| Property Damage | 3 years | the day the damage happened | RSA 508:4 |
| Sale of Goods | 4 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | RSA 382-A:2-725 |
Worked example
If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 3 years runs out on 2029-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.
More about New Hampshire
Common questions
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in New Hampshire?
- The shortest window is 3 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under RSA 508:4. Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- How long do you have on a property damage claim in New Hampshire?
- 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under RSA 508:4.
- How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in New Hampshire?
- 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under RSA 382-A:2-725.
- How much can you claim in small claims court in New Hampshire?
- An individual can claim up to $10,000. A business can claim up to $10,000. A public agency can claim up to $10,000. That comes from RSA 503:1.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open New Hampshire's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2018-05-30.
- RSA 508:4 · effective 1986-07-01 · A claim on an agreement, written or spoken, or for damage to property, must be filed within three years of when it happened.
- RSA 382-A:2-725 · effective 1961-07-01 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.