New Hampshire HB 1156: requiring that probate court notices of acquisitions of real estate through inheritance or similar devise be recorded in a county's registry of deeds.

Bill Text

HB 1156-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2389

 07/05

HOUSE BILL 1156-FN

AN ACT requiring that probate court notices of acquisitions of real estate through inheritance or similar devise be recorded in a county's registry of deeds.

SPONSORS: Rep. Walker, Straf. 19; Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6; Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 23

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

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ANALYSIS

 This bill requires that probate court notices of acquisitions of real estate through inheritance or similar devise be recorded in a county's registry of deeds.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2389

 07/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT requiring that probate court notices of acquisitions of real estate through inheritance or similar devise be recorded in a county's registry of deeds.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Probate Courts and Decedents' Estates; Inventory, Accounts, and Dealing With Assets; Real Estate; Notification of Towns and Cities. Amend RSA 554:18-a to read as follows:

 554:18-a Real Estate; Notification of Towns and Cities. Prior to rendering his final account, every administrator as defined in RSA 553:1 shall notify the selectmen of each town and the assessors of each city of those persons coming into the ownership of real estate through inheritance or devise, and shall certify to the probate court, on a form approved by the court, that such notice has been given. All such notices shall also be recorded at the respective county's registry of deeds prior to rendering of the final count, and the register of deeds shall be entitled to charge a fee pursuant to RSA 478:17-g. The provisions of this section shall not apply when real estate of a decedent is sold by license or consent. 

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.

 LBA

 26-2389

 10/21/25

HB 1156-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT requiring that probate court notices of acquisitions of real estate through inheritance or similar devise be recorded in a county's registry of deeds.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Increase

 County Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires estate administrators to notify local officials of anyone inheriting real estate and certify this to the probate court, before filing a final account. The notice must also be recorded at the county registry of deeds, which may charge a fee. 

The New Hampshire Association of Counties states that this would generate revenue for counties through a recording fee of $12 for the first page, plus $4 for each additional page, as well as applicable postage. However, the total revenue is indeterminable as it depends on the number of probate cases involving real estate inheritance.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

New Hampshire Association of Counties