NH Probate Court Guardianship Forms: Complete Filing Guide

The forms themselves are free from the New Hampshire Judicial Branch website. Getting them filed correctly — with the right supporting documents, in the right sequence, through the mandatory e-filing system — is where most self-represented petitioners run into trouble.

Here's every form involved in an NH adult guardianship case, what each one does, and how the filing process works.

The Core Filing Package

Form NHJB-2165-Pe — Petition for Guardian of Incapacitated Person. This is the main petition. You'll identify the proposed ward, state your relationship to them, describe why guardianship is necessary, and specify whether you're requesting guardianship of the person, the estate, or both. You must also state what less-restrictive alternatives you've explored and why they're insufficient — the court requires this under RSA 464-A.

Statement of Facts. Filed separately from the petition. This is where you document the proposed ward's functional limitations — specific incidents showing they cannot manage daily living activities like securing food, shelter, healthcare, or safety. Every incident must fall within six months of your filing date, and at least one must be within twenty days. This document carries the case. A well-documented Statement of Facts with concrete behavioral evidence is more important than any clinical report.

Form NHJB-2171-FP — DHHS Record Release Authorization. The court runs a criminal background check on every proposed guardian. You'll complete this form and submit it with your petition.

Form NHJB-2029-DFP — Motion to File Without Prepayment of Fees. Optional. If you can't afford the $260 filing fee, this form requests a fee waiver. The court reviews your financial situation and decides whether to grant it.

Filing Through TurboCourt

All New Hampshire guardianship petitions must be filed electronically through the TurboCourt portal. Paper filings are not accepted for new cases. TurboCourt walks you through each form with guided questions, but you should have all your information prepared before starting — the system can time out mid-session.

The base entry fee is $260, plus the mandatory $30 electronic case-filing surcharge. Card payments add a 3% transaction fee.

After Filing: What the Court Does

Once your petition is accepted, the court takes several automatic steps:

1. Appoints an attorney for the proposed ward. New Hampshire law guarantees legal representation for the person facing a potential loss of rights.
2. Schedules a hearing. The probate court sets a hearing date, typically several weeks to a few months out depending on the county's caseload.
3. Requires personal service. The proposed ward must receive a copy of the petition in-hand at least fourteen days before the hearing. This usually means hiring a sheriff or process server for personal delivery.

Post-Appointment Forms

If the court grants your petition, the guardian has ongoing reporting obligations:

Form NHJB-2166-P — Annual Report of the Guardian of the Person. Due every year, this covers the ward's living situation, health status, social activities, and how the guardian has exercised their authority.

Form NHJB-2160-P — Guardian's/Conservator's Accounting. Required if you hold guardianship of the estate. Details every financial transaction — income received, expenses paid, account balances — for the reporting period.

Missing these annual reports can result in the court issuing a show-cause order, which can ultimately lead to removal as guardian.

Common Filing Mistakes

The three errors that most frequently delay or derail guardianship petitions:

Relying on a medical affidavit to prove incapacity. Under RSA 464-A:8, III, a physician's affidavit can only prove the proposed ward is unable to attend the hearing. The court explicitly cannot consider it as evidence of incapacity. You need behavioral evidence in the Statement of Facts.

Stale evidence. The six-month and twenty-day windows are strict. If you document an incident in January but don't file until August, that evidence is inadmissible.

Skipping the alternatives analysis. The petition must show you've explored less-restrictive options — Supported Decision-Making, powers of attorney, representative payee — and explain why each one is insufficient. The court will not grant the petition without this analysis.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of the complete filing process — including evidence-tracking worksheets and a timeline that coordinates probate filings with SSI, Area Agency intake, and school transition deadlines — see the New Hampshire Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide.

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