Cheshire County Probate Court
12 Court St.
Keene, NH 03431
(603) 357-7786

The Probate office is open to the public daily from 8:00 AM to
4:00 PM

Albert H. Weeks
Judge of Probate

Anna Z. Tilton
Register of Probate

The Probate Court is located on the second floor of the Cheshire County Superior Courthouse. Probate records are available for examination by the public, with the exception of those files that contain information deemed to be confidential or are sealed by Court Order.

Staff is available to assist the public in how to use the index system, and to retrieve files for examination. The staff cannot assist with research or provide legal advice. Files prior to 1900 have been moved to State Archives in Concord, NH due to space restrictions at the Probate Court.

The State of New Hampshire Judicial web site for further information on matters of Probate is: www.courts.state.nh.us/probate
 

The Cheshire County Probate Court is part of the Judicial Branch of NH Government.

The work of the Probate Court centers on protecting individual rights, particularly for some of the state's most vulnerable citizens: children, the elderly, and mentally and physically disabled youth and adults.  The Probate Court resolves issues involving families as well as property.  Follow the links below for information, forms, the Judicial Site self-help center, FAQ’s, and more.

Adoptions:
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/probate/adoption.htm
This site provides a reference manual to help prospective parents understand the process as well as the forms needed to file a Petition of Adoption.

Guardianships of adults and minors:
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/probate/guardianship.htm
This site provides a checklist for preparing for a Guardianship hearing, questions and answers about the process as well as the forms needed to file a petition for guardianship.

Estates:
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/probate/estate.htm
This site provides a booklet titled “Administering An Estate” published by the NH Bar Association. The booklet is a laypersons' guide to serving as an executor of a will. The site also has an information sheet which provides a quick overview of the estate process as well as the forms needed to file an Estate Administration.

http://www.nhbar.org/pdfs/Wills&Trusts04.pdf
This public information booklet outlines some considerations and tools for planning your personal, family and financial future.

The information in these booklets is based on New Hampshire law in effect at the time of publication and they are issued as a public service for general information only. They are not a substitute for legal advice but are intended to help you recognize when you need legal advice and to help you understand the legal advice you receive.

Important Papers
http://www.extension.unh.edu/Family/documents/value_p.pdf
This publication from the UNH Cooperative Extension service will help your family know where household and financial records are kept and who to contact in case of an emergency. Planning ahead by completing these forms can save time and money in emergencies and also when administering an estate.

Name Changes:
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/probate/namechange.htm
This site provides important information for those who are considering a name change as well as the forms needed.

All Probate Court Forms
www.courts.state.nh.us/probate/pcforms/index.htm
The State of New Hampshire Judicial web site, for access to forms used in the Probate Court. Most have instructions on how to complete them. All the forms can be printed as blank forms and filled in manually. Most of the forms are also capable of being completed electronically using the TAB key to navigate the form from field to field and keying data into each field. The form can then be printed when done.

Judicial Branch Self Help Center
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/selfhelp/index.htm
These pages provide basic, practical information about the New Hampshire court system, how it works, and what the procedures are for bringing a case to court. The Self-Help Center should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. It contains basic information about court procedures, locations, forms and fees.

Medical Decisions and Advance Directives
http://www.healthynh.com/fhc/initiatives/performance/eol/EOLManual.php
The publications “Making Medical Decisions for Someone Else Handbook” and the “Advance Care Planning Guide” can be accessed and downloaded from this Foundations for Healthy Communities (Healthy NH) website

Legal Assistance and Information
http://www.nhbar.org/for-the-public
From the NH Bar Association, legal Information including Questions of Law,
Public Information Pamphlets and Lawyer Referral Services.

http://www.larcnh.org/Home/PublicWeb
From NH Legal Services, legal assistance information

Frequently asked Questions (FAQ’s)
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/sitewidelinks/faqindex.htm
This section of the NH Judicial Branch website is intended to provide objective answers to questions frequently asked by our citizens about the court system. Nothing on these pages should be considered legal advice and none of the information is intended to take the place of legal counsel.