New Hampshire protects $120,000 in home equity for a single Chapter 7 filer — one of the more generous flat homestead exemptions in the country, and it doubles to $240,000 for married couples filing jointly who own the home together. Combined with the option to choose federal exemptions instead, New Hampshire gives filers real flexibility most neighboring New England states don’t offer.
How Chapter 7 Works in New Hampshire
The process follows federal bankruptcy law: file a petition, a trustee reviews your assets against the exemptions you’re entitled to claim, and anything not covered is technically available to pay creditors. Most New Hampshire Chapter 7 cases are “no-asset” cases — the exemptions cover everything the filer owns, and the case closes with a discharge roughly three to four months after filing.
How Much Home Equity Can You Protect in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire’s homestead exemption protects $120,000 in home equity, or $240,000 combined for married couples who own the home together and file jointly.
New Hampshire lets filers choose between its own exemptions and the federal exemptions, whichever protects more property - you can't combine the two systems. Given New Hampshire’s relatively high property values, especially near the Massachusetts border and Seacoast region, this generous flat exemption matters more here than it would in a lower-cost-of-living state.
Should You Use New Hampshire or Federal Exemptions?
New Hampshire allows a genuine choice between its own exemption list and the federal exemptions under 11 U.S.C. § 522(d) — not a combination of both. Homeowners generally do better under New Hampshire’s own homestead exemption, since $120,000 exceeds the federal homestead allowance for most filers. Renters or filers with little home equity should compare both systems, since the federal wildcard can sometimes protect more non-housing property depending on what you own.
What Happens to Your Car in a New Hampshire Chapter 7?
New Hampshire exempts $10,000 in equity in one motor vehicle. — a genuinely generous figure compared to most states, meaning the large majority of New Hampshire filers keep their vehicle fully protected regardless of how new or valuable it is.
What Is New Hampshire’s Wildcard Exemption?
New Hampshire’s wildcard is $1,000 for any property, plus up to $7,000 of any unused portion of the homestead exemption. For filers who don’t own a home or have equity well below the homestead cap, this wildcard-plus-unused-homestead combination can meaningfully protect bank balances or other property.
Do You Qualify for Chapter 7 in New Hampshire? The Means Test
Your household income over the six months before filing is compared against New Hampshire’s median income for a household your size. Below the median, you qualify for Chapter 7 automatically. New Hampshire’s current median income figures:
- 1 person: $87,287
- 2 people: $109,324
- 3 people: $141,531
- 4 people: $155,203
- Each additional person: add $11,100
New Hampshire’s median figures run well above the national average, reflecting the state’s relatively high incomes — worth noting since it means more filers with substantial earnings still qualify for Chapter 7 than would in a lower-income state.
Which Federal District Do You File In?
District of New Hampshire - a single statewide district based in Concord, serving the entire state.How Much Does a Bankruptcy Attorney Cost in New Hampshire?
Chapter 7 attorney fees in New Hampshire typically run $900 to $2,500, on top of the 338 federal filing fee. Chapter 13 costs more given the complexity of a repayment plan: typically $3,500 to $4,500.
Common Mistakes New Hampshire Filers Make
Not comparing state versus federal exemptions. Even though state exemptions usually win for homeowners, it’s worth confirming given how much New Hampshire’s generous homestead already covers.
Overlooking a non-filing spouse’s income in the means test, which counts total household income.
Underestimating New Hampshire’s relatively high median income threshold when planning the timing of a filing.
Transferring property before filing to try to protect it — trustees investigate this closely.
A Realistic Example
Consider a filer we’ll call Kevin, living in Nashua near the Massachusetts border. He works in software support and owns a home with about $95,000 in equity, plus a paid-off car worth $9,000.
New Hampshire’s $120,000 homestead exemption fully covers his equity with room to spare. His $9,000 vehicle falls comfortably under the $10,000 vehicle exemption. His attorney confirms New Hampshire’s own exemptions are the clear choice given his equity level.
His income falls below New Hampshire’s median for a household of one, so he qualifies for Chapter 7 automatically. He files, attends the 341 meeting, and receives his discharge about ninety days later — home and car both fully protected.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in New Hampshire
Can I keep my house if I file Chapter 7 in New Hampshire?
In almost all cases, yes. New Hampshire’s homestead exemption protects $120,000 in equity for a single filer, or $240,000 for married couples filing jointly. Equity above that threshold isn’t automatically protected.
Can I choose federal bankruptcy exemptions instead of New Hampshire’s?
Yes. New Hampshire lets filers choose between its own exemption list and the federal exemptions, whichever protects more of what they own. You can’t combine the two systems.
How much car equity can I protect in New Hampshire bankruptcy?
$10,000 in one vehicle — a relatively generous figure compared to most states, enough to fully protect most filers’ cars regardless of value.
What is the New Hampshire bankruptcy means test income limit?
It depends on household size and updates periodically. Current thresholds are roughly $87,287 for one person, $109,324 for two, $141,531 for three, and $155,203 for four, with $11,100 added per additional person — notably higher than the national average.
Which bankruptcy court handles my case in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has a single statewide bankruptcy court, the District of New Hampshire, based in Concord and serving the entire state regardless of where you live.
How long does Chapter 7 take in New Hampshire?
Most cases discharge within three to four months of filing, assuming no complications or objections from creditors or the trustee.
Where to Verify the Details
New Hampshire’s exemption statutes are published in RSA 511:2 and RSA 480:1. For current means test figures, check the U.S. Trustee Program website. Filing information is available through the District of New Hampshire bankruptcy court.
Alternatives to Chapter 7 in New Hampshire
If your income is too high to pass the means test, or you need to catch up on mortgage payments, Chapter 13 bankruptcy in New Hampshire restructures debt into a three-to-five-year repayment plan instead of liquidation. For a look at credit card debt trends in the state, see our average credit card debt guide for New Hampshire.
Last reviewed by American Debt Guide Editorial Team. Figures on this page reflect New Hampshire bankruptcy exemption amounts and federal filing data as of July 2026.