Divorce & Family Law
How a New Hampshire divorce works step by step, how property and support are decided, and the statutes behind each.
Full family law overviewServing Nashua & the Souhegan Valley
Nashua Divorce & Family Law Attorney
Representation for Nashua, Hudson, and Hollis families at the 9th Circuit Family Division — divorce, parenting plans, child support, and protective orders. Practicing in New Hampshire since 1997.
Where your case is heard
The Nashua Family Division — and the court people mistake it for.
Knowing which courthouse handles your case matters before you file anything.
Divorce and parenting matters for Nashua residents go to the 9th Circuit Court — Family Division — Nashua, at 30 Spring Street, Suite 102. That location also covers Hudson and Hollis.
Here is where people get caught out. If you live in Merrimack, Litchfield, or Bedford, your case is not heard in Nashua — it goes to the 9th Circuit Family Division in Merrimack, on Baboosic Lake Road. Proximity to Nashua has nothing to do with it. Filing in the wrong division costs time you may not have if there is a temporary order at stake.
Attorney Gilman's office is in Manchester, about twenty minutes up the Everett Turnpike from the Nashua courthouse. Because New Hampshire attorneys are licensed statewide and the Hillsborough County divisions run on the same statutes and rules, what matters is how often your lawyer does this work — not the town on the letterhead.
What we handle
Family law matters for Nashua-area clients
Divorce
Contested and uncontested, including division of property and debt, alimony, and settlement agreements built to survive the years after the decree.
Parenting Plans
Residential schedules, decision-making authority, holidays, and relocation disputes under RSA 461-A.
Child Support
Establishing, modifying, and enforcing support under New Hampshire's RSA 458-C guidelines.
Father's Rights
Advocacy for fathers seeking real parenting time and a genuine say in decisions about their children.
Restraining Orders
Representation for petitioners seeking protection under RSA 173-B and for respondents facing an order.
Modifications
When a job, a move, or a child's needs change, existing orders often need to change with them.
Local reality
Living on the Massachusetts line.
Nashua's position creates questions that a case in Concord never raises.
A great many Nashua-area families have one spouse working in Massachusetts, a child attending school across the line, or a move to Tyngsborough or Lowell somewhere in the recent past. Each of those facts can affect which state hears the case, how income is calculated for support, and what happens if one parent later wants to relocate.
New Hampshire generally requires that one spouse has been domiciled here for a year before filing, with alternatives when both parties live in the state or the other spouse can be served here. When both New Hampshire and Massachusetts could plausibly take the case, the choice is not merely procedural — the two states divide property and calculate support differently, and the difference can be substantial.
Attorney Gilman is admitted in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, in state and federal court, which means these cross-border questions get answered rather than referred out.
Frequently asked
Nashua divorce questions
Which court handles a Nashua divorce?
Divorce and parenting cases for Nashua residents are heard at the 9th Circuit Court — Family Division — Nashua, at 30 Spring Street, Suite 102. That location also covers Hudson and Hollis. If you live in Merrimack, Litchfield, or Bedford, your case is heard at the 9th Circuit Family Division in Merrimack instead, on Baboosic Lake Road — a common point of confusion for people who assume the nearest city is the right courthouse.
Do I need a Nashua-based lawyer for a Nashua divorce?
No. New Hampshire attorneys are licensed statewide, and the Family Division locations across Hillsborough County operate under the same rules and statutes. What matters far more is whether the lawyer regularly practices family law and is familiar with the court. Attorney Gilman's office is in Manchester, roughly 20 minutes up the Everett Turnpike from the Nashua courthouse.
How much of a divorce requires going to the courthouse?
Less than most people expect. Much of a case is documents, negotiation, and correspondence. Court appearances tend to cluster around temporary orders, mediation, and any final hearing. Many routine matters are handled by filing rather than in person, which keeps the travel burden lower than clients anticipate.
Can I file for divorce in New Hampshire if my spouse lives in Massachusetts?
Often yes. New Hampshire's residency rules generally require that one spouse has been domiciled in the state for a year, with alternatives when both parties live here or the other spouse can be served in New Hampshire. Cross-border situations are common in the Nashua area given the Massachusetts line, and they raise real questions about which state should hear the case. Attorney Gilman is admitted in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Go deeper
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