{"id":374886,"date":"2016-04-11T01:23:25","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-hampshire-law\/new-hampshire-domestic-violence-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:12:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T16:12:13","slug":"new-hampshire-domestic-violence-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-hampshire-law\/new-hampshire-domestic-violence-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"New Hampshire Domestic Violence Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New Hampshire Domestic Violence Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Domestic violence<\/span> in New Hampshire<\/span> is a criminal offense involving specific harmful acts committed against family members<\/span>, household members<\/span>, or intimate partners<\/span>. These crimes include kidnapping, assault, and sexual abuse and are typically prosecuted as class A <\/span>misdemeanors<\/span> or class B felonies<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Being a victim of any crime is bad enough, but it’s even worse when it’s committed by someone you should be able to trust. Domestic violence<\/span> crimes<\/a> can tear families apart, and sometimes the abuse can seem like it’ll never end.<\/p>\n

New Hampshire<\/span> law<\/span> has protections in place<\/a> to help victims of domestic abuse<\/span>. It also has methods of deterrence to deny abusers opportunities to continue the vicious cycle of threats, violence, and abuse. This article will define what New Hampshire<\/span> considers domestic violence<\/span><\/a>, the guardrails the state has in place, and what happens when charges of abuse are exposed.<\/p>\n

New Hampshire<\/span> Domestic Violence<\/span> Laws<\/span>: How They Work<\/h2>\n

Not all crimes in New Hampshire<\/span> between people who know each other are considered to be domestic violence<\/span><\/a>. There are two elements required of a crime for it to be considered domestic abuse<\/span> in the state of <\/span>New Hampshire<\/span>: the relationship between those involved and the type of crime committed. Let’s take a closer look at each aspect.<\/p>\n

Domestic Violence<\/span> in New Hampshire<\/span>: Who Can Be Part of It?<\/h3>\n

New Hampshire<\/span> law<\/span> notes that those who can be caught up in domestic violence<\/span> are family members<\/span>, household members<\/span>, and current or former sexual or intimate partners<\/span><\/a>. That definition can feel a bit vague. Here’s a detailed list:<\/p>\n