New Hampshire Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced New Hampshire criminal defense attorneys who navigate the state’s Class A-B grading system, the suspended-sentence and conditional-discharge frameworks, and New Hampshire’s annulment (expungement equivalent) statute under RSA 651:5.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a New Hampshire attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free New Hampshire criminal defense case review

A New Hampshire attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your New Hampshire criminal defense case

When you submit a New Hampshire criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under New Hampshire law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in New Hampshire who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in New Hampshire

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A New Hampshire criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In New Hampshire, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, sexual assaults against minors (with discovery rule); 6 years for most felonies; 1 year for misdemeanors (RSA 625:8)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 1 year
1 year for misdemeanors generally (RSA 625:8)
Sentencing Structure: Class A-B
Class A-B felony / misdemeanor grading under RSA 625:9; extended term under RSA 651:6 for repeat offenders and dangerous offenses; murder mandatory minimums (RSA 630:1-a)
Expungement / Record Sealing: 3 years
Annulment under RSA 651:5 — eligible after 3 years (Class A misdemeanor), 5-10 years (felonies); broad eligibility but specific exclusions; non-conviction annulment immediate
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under RSA 597; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (N.H. Const. Pt. 1, Art. 33); preventive detention provisions for dangerousness
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

New Hampshire grades crimes under RSA 625:9. Felonies are Class A (up to 15 years) or Class B (up to 7 years); misdemeanors are Class A (up to 1 year), Class B (no jail, fines only), or violation (fines). Murder First-Degree carries mandatory life without parole; Murder Second-Degree carries 35 years to life (New Hampshire abolished the death penalty in 2019 — the last northeastern state to do so). New Hampshire has Extended Term sentencing under RSA 651:6 for repeat offenders, dangerous offenses, and certain firearm crimes. New Hampshire decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2017 (HB 640) — possession up to 3/4 oz is a violation; medical cannabis legalized 2013. Recreational possession over 3/4 oz remains criminal. New Hampshire’s annulment statute under RSA 651:5 is the state’s equivalent of expungement — eligible after specific waiting periods (3-10 years depending on offense). Granted petitions truly remove the conviction from most records. New Hampshire County Attorneys plea-bargain extensively, and many counties have established drug court, mental health court, and veterans court programs.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in New Hampshire

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in New Hampshire

Which one is closest to yours?

DWI / Aggravated DWI

New Hampshire DWI under RSA 265-A:2 (.08 BAC). First offense: Class B misdemeanor, $500 fine, 9-month license loss, alcohol education. Aggravated DWI (BAC .16+, accident with injury, child passenger): Class A misdemeanor, 17 days mandatory minimum. Second DWI in 10 years: Class A misdemeanor, 30 days minimum.

Sound like yours? A New Hampshire attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

Start my free review

Exhibit D

How much do New Hampshire criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

New Hampshire · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in New Hampshire are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in New Hampshire work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under N.H. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The New Hampshire Public Defender represents indigent defendants statewide.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your New Hampshire criminal defense compensation can include

A New Hampshire criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss, speedy trial under RSA 600-A:1 and constitutional speedy trial, or prosecutor nolle prosequi.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

New Hampshire criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a New Hampshire attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. New Hampshire State Police, Manchester PD, Nashua PD, and county sheriffs use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and N.H. Const. Pt. 1, Art. 15 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. New Hampshire Class A misdemeanors carry up to 1 year jail and $2,000 fines under RSA 651:2. Diversion through County Attorney offices can result in dismissal. DV and DUI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.

State cases go through New Hampshire Superior Court (felonies) or Circuit Court — District Division (misdemeanors). Federal cases go to U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire (Concord) under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal cases commonly involve drug trafficking, § 922(g) firearm cases, and federal fraud.

New Hampshire plea agreements are negotiated between the County Attorney (felonies) or police prosecutor (misdemeanors) and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, suspended sentences with probation, diversion, drug court entry, and stipulated sentence recommendations.

Yes — New Hampshire calls it annulment rather than expungement, under RSA 651:5. Class A misdemeanors are eligible after 3 years post-completion. Class B felonies after 5 years. Class A felonies after 10 years. Many sex offenses, DUI, and serious violent offenses are excluded. Annulment truly removes the conviction from most public records.

New Hampshire handles juveniles under 18 in juvenile court under RSA 169-B. Juvenile records are confidential and most are sealed automatically. Transfer to adult court for juveniles 13+ for serious offenses under RSA 169-B:24.

New Hampshire DWI under RSA 265-A:2 uses .08 BAC (.04 commercial, .02 under-21). Aggravated DWI (.16+, accident with injury, child passenger) carries enhanced penalties under § 265-A:3. Implied consent under § 265-A:4 — refusal triggers automatic 6-month license suspension. Mandatory IID under § 265-A:36. Second DWI within 10 years is a Class A misdemeanor with mandatory 17 days jail.

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in New Hampshire

Same New Hampshire rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in New Hampshire

All New Hampshire practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysNew Hampshire has a strict-liability dog-bite law — the owner pays for unprovoked bites without proof of viciousness.

Business Dispute attorneysNH enforces reasonable non-competes — and the New Hampshire Supreme Court has set the modern reasonableness factors.

Car Accident attorneysNH is the only state that doesn’t require auto liability insurance — but financial responsibility laws still apply, and most drivers carry coverage anyway.

Consumer Protection attorneysThe NH Consumer Protection Act allows actual damages, double or triple damages for willful violations, and attorney fees.

Defective Product attorneysNew Hampshire holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products — and a 12-year outer time limit cuts off older claims.

Employment attorneysThe NH Law Against Discrimination covers more than Title VII — including sexual orientation, gender identity, and atypical hereditary cellular conditions.

Family Law attorneysNH is an equitable-distribution state — and the no-fault ground of “irreconcilable differences” governs most modern divorces.

Immigration attorneysNH cases are heard in the Boston Immigration Court (MA, serves NH) — and growing immigrant populations in Manchester and Nashua drive case volume.

Lemon Law attorneysThe NH Lemon Law covers new vehicles within 2 years/24,000 miles — and the manufacturer pays attorney fees if you prevail.

Medical Malpractice attorneysNH med-mal claims require expert testimony — and the recently restored damages caps remain under constitutional challenge.

Personal Injury attorneysA 3-year filing deadline and a bar on recovery if you’re more than half at fault frame every NH PI case.

Slip and Fall attorneysNH premises liability turns on notice and reasonableness — and the natural-accumulation rule limits some weather-related claims, though the state supreme court has refined it.

Social Security Disability attorneysNH SSA hearing office in Manchester processes moderate volumes — First Circuit precedent shapes federal review.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysNH workers’ comp runs through the state Department of Labor — and benefits are 60% of average weekly wage up to a state cap.

New Hampshire Criminal Defense Attorneys

How we match your New Hampshire criminal defense case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a criminal defense claim in New Hampshire

Arrest or charge.

Tell us what happened.

First appearance and bail.

Discovery and motions.

Negotiation or trial.

Outcome and record.

When to call a criminal defense attorney in New Hampshire

Criminal Defense cases we take in New Hampshire

DWI / Aggravated DWI

Drug possession and sale

Assault

Domestic violence

Theft

White-collar crimes

Gun and firearm charges

Sex offenses

Homicide

Juvenile offenses

Probation and parole violations

Federal crimes in New Hampshire

How much do New Hampshire criminal defense attorneys cost?

What your New Hampshire criminal defense compensation can include

Charge Dismissal

Charge Reduction

Diversion / Specialty Courts

Plea Agreement

Trial Acquittal

Post-Conviction Relief

New Hampshire criminal defense questions, answered

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in New Hampshire

Other case types in New Hampshire

Ready when you are.

Your help is just

a minute away.

Start your case

in minutes.