Strafford County, New Hampshire Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Strafford County, New Hampshire are collected by the Strafford County Probate Court in Dover according to New Hampshire's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance. New Hampshire's court structure — Superior Court (complex civil) / Circuit Court (family/probate/small claims/district division) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Strafford County Probate Court operates as a high-volume court with structured calendars. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full New Hampshire court filing fee schedule, see our New Hampshire Court Filing Fees.

• Filing fees in Strafford County are based on New Hampshire's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $75–$150 (Circuit Court — Probate Division)
• civil complaints and appearances — $210–$275 (Superior Court) / $65–$120 (Circuit Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $175–$250 (Circuit Court — Family Division)
• small claims filings — $45–$95 (Circuit Court small claims). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Strafford County Probate Court in Dover may include additional local charges.

As a high-volume jurisdiction, Strafford County may assess higher local surcharges than smaller counties, reflecting the greater administrative cost of operating a busy court in Dover.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Strafford County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in New Hampshire), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Strafford County, request the full fee schedule from the Strafford County Probate Court clerk in Dover before initiating the proceeding.

New Hampshire is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Strafford County Probate Court in Dover likely participates in the state system — represented parties in civil and family matters may be required to file electronically.

Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies. For full statewide e-filing details, see our New Hampshire Court Filing Fees.

• Strafford County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under N.H.
• Rev.
• Stat.
• Ann. § 490:30.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Strafford County Probate Court clerk's office in Dover at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Strafford County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in N.H.
• Rev.
• Stat.
• Ann. § 490:30 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Strafford County Probate Court clerk in Dover for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Strafford County Probate Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Strafford County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.