547:1 Court of Record
547:2 Meaning of Terms
547:2-a Full-Time Judges
547:3 Jurisdiction
547:3-a Issues to Court
547:3-b Equity Jurisdiction
547:3-c Deviation from Terms of Trust
547:3-d Cy Pres Doctrine
547:3-e Federal Taxation
547:3-f Inapplicability of Cy Pres
547:3-g Definitions
547:3-h Termination of Charitable Trusts
547:3-i Change of Name
547:3-j Attachments, Executions, and Levies
547:3-k Exemption from the Rule Against Perpetuities
547:3-l Jurisdiction over Ancillary Matters
547:8 Probate of Will, Etc
547:9 Settlement of Estates
547:10 Guardianship Proceedings
547:11 Enforcement of Orders, Etc
547:11-a Authority on Accounting by Fiduciaries
547:11-b Declaratory Judgments
547:11-c Quiet Title
547:11-d Transfer to Superior Court
547:11-f Motions for Summary Judgment
547:12 Drawing Will
547:13 Acting as Counsel
547:14 Interest
547:15 If Disqualified to Sit
547:16 Compensation of Judge Acting for Another
547:17 Records; Appeals
547:18 Vacancy
547:18-a Absence or Inability to Attend
547:19 Powers of Judge Acting for Another
547:19-a Retirement Due to Disability
547:19-b Retirement Due to Constitutional Age Limitation
547:19-c Retired Judges of Probate
547:19-d Retirement at Age 65
547:20 At Dwelling-house, Etc
547:21 Adjournment
547:22-a Transitional Adjustment
547:22-b Probate Court Judges Expenses
547:24 Other Compensation Prohibited
547:26 Depositions
547:27-a Docket and Index
547:27-b Records
547:27-c Probate Court Entry Fees
547:28 Penalty
547:29 Service of Process
547:30 Transfer of Questions of Law to Supreme Court
547:31 Stenographer
547:32 Compensation
547:33 Rules and Forms
547:35 Notice of Hearings, Etc
547:37 Retired Judges as Masters; Special Masters

Need help with a review of a will?
Have it reviewed by a lawyer, get answers to your questions and move forward with confidence.
Connect with a lawyer now

Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 547 - Judges of Probate and Their Jurisdiction

  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • advertisement: means all representations disseminated in any manner or by any means, other than by labeling, for the purpose of inducing, or which are likely to induce, directly or indirectly, the purchase of food, drugs, devices or cosmetics. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Armed forces: means the United States Army, Army Reserve, Navy, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Space Force, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:50
  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • biennially: when applied to meetings and elections in towns, shall mean the biennial meetings and elections required by law to be holden in the month of November biennially, dating from the commencement of biennial elections in 1878; and the word "annual" when applied to meetings and elections in towns, shall mean the annual meetings and elections required by law to be holden in the month of March. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:7
  • Board: means the board of examiners of nursing home administrators of the state of New Hampshire. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 151-A:1
  • Brownfields: means properties which have been environmentally contaminated, subject to the limitations of N. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 147-F:3
  • bylaw: when used in reference to legislative action taken by a city, town, county or village district shall have the same meaning as an ordinance and shall be subject to the same procedures for enactment. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:45
  • Civil forfeiture: The loss of ownership of property used to conduct illegal activity.
  • color: includes black, white and intermediate grays. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • color additive: means a material which-(a) is a dye, pigment, or other substance made by a process of synthesis or similar artifice, or extracted, isolated, or otherwise derived, with or without intermediate or final change of identity from a vegetable, animal, mineral or other source, and (b) when added or applied to a food, drug, or cosmetic, or to the human body or any part thereof, is capable (alone or through reaction with other substance) of imparting color thereto; except that such term does not include any material which has been or hereafter is exempted under the federal act. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • commissioner: means the commissioner of the department of health and human services. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contaminant: or "Contamination" means hazardous waste, hazardous materials (without regard to whether transported in commerce), or oil, as defined in N. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 147-F:3
  • Contamination: means hazardous waste, hazardous materials (without regard to whether transported in commerce), or oil, as defined in N. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 147-F:3
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • cosmetic: means (1) articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleaning, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and (2) articles intended for use as a component of any such articles, except that such term shall not include soap. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Department: means department of environmental services. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 147-F:3
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • drug: means (1) articles recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, or official National Formulary, or any supplement to any of them; and (2) articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in man or other animals; and (3) articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals; and (4) articles intended for use as a component of any articles specified in clause (1), (2) or (3); but does not include devices or their components, parts, or accessories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • Eligible person: means a person who meets the criteria under N. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 147-F:3
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • farm: means any land, buildings, or structures on or in which agriculture and farming operations or activities are carried out or conducted and shall include the residence or residences of owners, occupants, or employees located on such land. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:34-a
  • federal act: means the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Title 21 U. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of these laws, shall mean the section next preceding or following that in which such reference is made, unless some other is expressly designated. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:13
  • food: means (1) articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, (2) chewing gum, and (3) articles used for components of any such article. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • food additive: means any substance, the intended use of which results or may be reasonably expected to result, directly or indirectly, in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics of any food (including any substance intended for use in producing, manufacturing, packing, processing, preparing, treating, packaging, transporting, or holding food; and including any source of radiation intended for any such use), if such substance is not generally recognized among experts qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate its safety, as having been adequately shown through scientific procedures (or, in the case of a substance used in foods prior to January 1, 1958 through either scientific procedures or experience based on common use of food) to be safe under the conditions of its intended use; except that such term does not include: (1) a pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity; or (2) a pesticide chemical to the extent that it is intended for use or is used in the production, storage, or transportation of any raw agricultural commodity; or (3) a color additive; or (4) any substance used in accordance with a sanction or approval granted prior to the enactment of the Food Additives Amendment of 1958, pursuant to the Federal Act; The Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • governing body: shall mean the board of selectmen in a town, the board of aldermen or council in a city or town with a town council, the school board in a school district or the village district commissioners in a village district, or when used to refer to unincorporated towns or unorganized places, or both, the county commissioners. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:48
  • governor and council: shall mean the governor with the advice and consent of the council. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:31-a
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Inter vivos: Transfer of property from one living person to another living person.
  • Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • justice: when applied to a magistrate, shall mean a justice of a municipal court, or a justice of the peace having jurisdiction over the subject-matter. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:12
  • label: means a display of written, printed or graphic matter upon the immediate container of any article; and a requirement made by or under authority of this chapter that any word, statement, or other information appear on the label shall not be considered to be complied with unless such word, statement, or other information also appears on the outside container or wrapper, if any there be, of the retail package of such article, or is easily legible through the outside container or wrapper. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • labeling: means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter (1) upon an article or any of its containers or wrappers, or (2) accompanying such article. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Legatee: A beneficiary of a decedent
  • legislative body: shall mean a town meeting, school district meeting, village district meeting, city or town council, mayor and council, mayor and board of aldermen, or, when used to refer to unincorporated towns or unorganized places, or both, the county convention. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:47
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • month: shall mean a calendar month, and the word "year" a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed; and the word "year" shall be equivalent to the expression "year of our Lord. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:8
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Nursing home: means any institution or facility, whether proprietary or non-proprietary, defined as a nursing home for licensing purposes pursuant to RSA 151, or the equivalent facility or facilities as defined by the secretary of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 151-A:1
  • Nursing home administrator: means any individual who is charged with the general administration of a nursing home whether or not such individual has an ownership interest in such home and whether or not such individual's functions and duties are shared with one or more other individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 151-A:1
  • oath: shall include "affirmation" in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath; and, in like cases, the word "sworn" shall include the word "affirmed. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:24
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • official compendium: means the official United States Pharmacopoeia, official National Formulary, or any supplement of any of them. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies corporate and politic as well as to individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:9
  • Person: means any individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, corporation (including a government corporation), partnership, association, limited liability company, municipality, commission, and the state or a political subdivision of the state. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 147-F:3
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • pesticide chemical: means any substance which, alone, in chemical combination, or in formulation with one or more other substances is an economic poison within the meaning of N. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • petition: when used in connection with the equity jurisdiction of the superior court, and referring to a document filed with the court, shall mean complaint, and "petitioner" shall mean plaintiff. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:51
  • petitioner: shall mean plaintiff. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:51
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Program: means the brownfields program established by this chapter. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 147-F:3
  • Program participant: means any person, whether or not eligible for the liability protections created by this chapter, who is approved by the department to use the remedial process prescribed by this chapter. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 147-F:3
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • public sewer: as used in this chapter , shall be understood to mean any sewer constructed and maintained by taxation, or any sewer which is open for general use upon the payment of a rental, license or other fee. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 147:8
  • raw agricultural commodity: means any food in its raw or natural state, including all fruits that are washed, colored or otherwise treated in their unpeeled natural form prior to marketing. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
  • real estate: shall include lands, tenements, and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:21
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • registered mail: when used in connection with the requirement for notice by mail shall mean either registered mail or certified mail. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:32-a
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • road: shall include all bridges thereon. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:26
  • seal: shall include an impression of the official seal made upon the paper alone, as well as an impression thereof made by means of wax, or a wafer, affixed thereto. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:11
  • Secretary: means the secretary of the board of examiners of nursing home administrators of the state of New Hampshire. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 151-A:1
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • state: when applied to different parts of the United States, may extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • sworn: when applied to public officers required by the constitution to take oaths therein prescribed, shall refer to those oaths; when applied to other officers it shall mean sworn to the faithful discharge of the duties of their offices before a justice of the peace, or other person authorized to administer official oaths in such cases. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:25
  • Testate: To die leaving a will.
  • Testator: A male person who leaves a will at death.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Trustor: The person who makes or creates a trust. Also known as the grantor or settlor.
  • United States: shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4