At a glance
- Name an appraiser
- Twenty days after the written demand (RSA 407:22).
- Choose an umpire
- Fifteen days; then a judge of a court of record on request.
- If they cannot agree
- A judge of a court of record in the county of the property, on request.
- Suit deadline paused?
- No tolling. The statutory form allows twelve months to sue.
- Licensing
- No state license for property claim appraisers. The policy requires each appraiser to be competent and impartial (some forms say disinterested), which is why an appraiser paid by a share of the award is open to challenge.
The clock
- Day 0 Written demand Either party. Certified mail.
- By day 20 Appraisers named 20 days for each side
- By day 35 Umpire chosen 15 days, or a judge appoints
- On site Inspection Both estimates, line by line
- The award Award signed Any two of three
- After filing Payment Commonly within 60 days
- Day 0 Written demand Either party. Certified mail.
- By day 20 Appraisers named 20 days for each side
- By day 35 Umpire chosen 15 days, or a judge appoints
- On site Inspection Both estimates, line by line
- The award Award signed Any two of three
- After filing Payment Commonly within 60 days
Appraisal in New Hampshire begins with a written demand from one party to the other. The deadlines in the table above run from that demand: first the period to name an appraiser, then the period for the two appraisers to agree on an umpire. Send the demand by certified mail with return receipt, and keep a copy with the policy.
Once the panel is complete, the appraisers inspect the property, prepare their estimates and work through the differences line by line. Only what they cannot settle goes to the umpire.
On the deadline to sue: No tolling. The statutory form allows twelve months to sue.
What the panel decides
Amount of loss. Appraisers do not decide whether the policy covers the loss, interpret policy language, or rule on bad faith. Those questions stay with the courts.
Everywhere, including New Hampshire, the panel leaves alone whether the policy covers the loss, how the policy language is read, and whether the carrier acted in bad faith. Those are for the courts. An award that strays into them is the one most likely to be set aside.
Who may serve
No state license for property claim appraisers. The policy requires each appraiser to be competent and impartial (some forms say disinterested), which is why an appraiser paid by a share of the award is open to challenge.
Whatever the statute says, the policy standard is the one that decides most challenges: an appraiser must be competent and impartial, or in some forms disinterested. The contractor who will do the work, a public adjuster paid a share of the claim, or anyone employed by a party does not meet it. We are paid a flat fee for that reason.
The award
An award signed by any two of the three sets the actual cash value and the amount of loss.
Points particular to New Hampshire
The statute provides that appraisal or examination proceedings do not waive any policy provision.
Common losses in New Hampshire
The disputes we see most often in New Hampshire arise from:
- Ice dams and winter storm
- Wind and nor'easters
- Freeze and burst pipes
Flood is insured separately, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program, under federal rules rather than New Hampshire's. Its appraisal clause settles price only, and its deadlines are its own. How a flood claim works
Authorities
Statutes, regulations and case law change. This page was reviewed against official sources in October 2026 and describes the general rule; it is not legal advice about your claim.
Questions about appraisal in New Hampshire
Does my New Hampshire homeowners policy have an appraisal clause?
Almost certainly.
In New Hampshire the appraisal clause is written into state law (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 407:22), so fire and homeowners policies must include it. You will find it under the policy's conditions, usually under the heading Appraisal.
How long do we have to name an appraiser in New Hampshire?
Twenty days after the written demand (RSA 407:22).
Who chooses the umpire in New Hampshire if the appraisers cannot agree?
A judge of a court of record in the county of the property, on request.
Can the appraisers decide whether my loss is covered in New Hampshire?
Amount of loss.
Appraisers do not decide whether the policy covers the loss, interpret policy language, or rule on bad faith. Those questions stay with the courts.
Does demanding appraisal pause the deadline to sue in New Hampshire?
No tolling.
The statutory form allows twelve months to sue.
Do appraisers need a license in New Hampshire?
No state license for property claim appraisers.
The policy requires each appraiser to be competent and impartial (some forms say disinterested), which is why an appraiser paid by a share of the award is open to challenge.
Nearby: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont