In this section, you will find information on:
The Family Division has jurisdiction to handle adoption of children in abuse and neglect cases pursuant to RSA 169-C, termination of parental rights cases pursuant to RSA 170-C, and guardianship cases over the minor only (not the estate). If the adoption you are considering does not arise from a case type listed above, your adoption should be filed in your local Probate Division. Checklists:
Source: New Hampshire Judicial Branch Probate Division and Family Division |
Adoption forms may be downloaded or filled in on-line using Adobe Filler |
Pamphlets:
The Motion must include such things as the requesting party's name, mailing address and relationship to the adoption; the information being requested from the file; any information known by the requesting party concerning the adoption; as well as the reason the information is being requested. Procedure Bulletin 19 - Relative to: Requests for Information Concerning Adoption Files Note: A Certificate of Adoption can be obtained using this form
Resources for Further Information:
Source: New Hampshire Judicial Branch |
A guardian is a person who has been appointed by the court to have care and custody of a minor (someone under 18 years of age, who is unmarried and unemancipated) or over the minor's estate as specified by a court order. Guardianships of minors are done in the Family Division, unless the guardianship involves both the minor and the estate of the minor in which case it would be done in the Probate Division. The circumstances of each case will determine whether a guardianship over the person only, estate only or person and estate should be sought. A guardian over the person (only) has the court ordered authority to make certain life decisions, such as where the minor shall live. In addition, the guardian may consent or approve to medical treatment of the minor, make provision for the care and comfort of the minor and take reasonable care of the minor’s personal effects/ belongings. A guardian of both the person and estate is responsible for the things referenced above as well as the minor’s personal property and real estate, as well as any other monies, stocks, etc. owned by the minor and provide an inventory of these items to the court (a court form). It is the duty of the guardian to protect and preserve the estate of the minor and provide an annual accounting of the guardian’s dealings with the minor’s assets to the court. Checklists:
For more information, see:
Source: New Hampshire Judicial Branch |
Electronic Filing is required in Guardianship cases filed at all family division and all probate division locations. Self-represented litigants will use the program TurboCourt. Attorneys will use the program File & Serve.
Source: New Hampshire Judicial Branch |
Foster parents are asked to provide a safe, stable, temporary, and caring atmosphere for a child placed in their home. Foster parents become part of a team effort to support the child and implement the plans made for the child. This involves working with biological parents, courts, DCYF, and other involved agencies. A Foster Care license is required in order to be a foster parent or to adopt from foster care: RSA 170-E:27 License Required: Prohibition Against Child Endangerment -- No person shall establish, maintain, operate, or conduct any agency for child care or for child-placing without a license or permit issued by the department under this subdivision. RSA 170-E:25 Definitions -- II. "Child care agency" means any person, corporation, partnership, voluntary association or other organization either established for profit or otherwise, who regularly receives for care one or more children, unrelated to the operator of the agency, apart from the parents, in any facility as defined in this subdivision.”
For more information see:
Source: NH Department of Health and Human Services - Division for Children, Youth & Families |