Sexual Assault Attorneys in New Hampshire: Your Complete Legal Guide
New Hampshire made landmark legislative history in 2020 when House Bill 705, the Crime Victims’ Rights Enhancement Act, eliminated the civil statute of limitations for sexual assault claims against direct perpetrators. Signed by Governor Chris Sununu in July 2020 and effective September 18, 2020, the law under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4-g now allows survivors of any age – whether abused as children or as adults – to file civil claims against the individual who committed the assault at any time, with no deadline. New Hampshire joins a growing group of states that have permanently eliminated civil SOLs for sexual assault rather than simply creating temporary lookback windows. This change was driven by advocacy from survivors and support organizations who argued that trauma often prevents victims from coming forward within arbitrary time limits.
Important caveats apply: the no-deadline rule applies to claims against the direct perpetrator for conduct qualifying as sexual assault under RSA 632-A or incest under RSA 639:2. It does not retroactively revive already-expired negligence claims against third parties (schools, churches, institutions), and it was not made explicitly retroactive by the legislature. The New Hampshire Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of at least one previously time-barred institutional claim filed after the 2020 change. Survivors with institutional claims and survivors whose claims were already expired before September 2020 should consult an attorney immediately.
Understanding New Hampshire Sexual Assault Laws
Criminal Statutes of Limitations
New Hampshire maintains criminal statutes of limitations that differ from the civil framework.
Adult victims (18 or older): The criminal SOL for felony sexual assault is six years from the date of the offense. For misdemeanor sexual assault, the SOL is one year.
Child victims (under 18): Under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 625:8, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have until their 40th birthday to bring criminal charges. This gives survivors 22 years from reaching the age of majority at 18.
DNA identification exception: If DNA evidence identifies the perpetrator, the criminal SOL may be extended in cases where identity was not previously known.
Civil Statutes of Limitations
The 2020 Reform – N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4-g:
Following House Bill 705, there is no civil statute of limitations for claims against the direct perpetrator of sexual assault (conduct qualifying as a crime under RSA 632-A or RSA 639:2). This applies to both child survivors and adult survivors and covers a broad range of non-consensual sexual contact and penetration – not only acts that would qualify as “rape” under narrow definitions, but also sexual contact more broadly defined under New Hampshire’s sexual assault statutes. There is no need for criminal charges to have been filed; the conduct simply must meet the definitions in those statutes.
What the reform does NOT cover:
The no-deadline rule applies to claims against the person who committed the assault. It does not automatically extend to negligence-based claims against institutions – schools, churches, employers, organizations – that failed to protect the survivor or enabled the abuse. The New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld a trial court’s dismissal of a claim against the Diocese of Manchester for abuse occurring in the 1970s, finding that the previously expired claim could not be retroactively revived. For institutional claims, the general three-year personal injury SOL under RSA 508:4 applies, and for childhood sexual abuse, the prior statute extended the SOL to age 30. Whether institutional claims with deadlines falling after September 18, 2020 may benefit from the 2020 reform requires case-by-case legal analysis.
Institutional liability generally:
New Hampshire courts recognize claims against institutions – schools, churches, employers, youth organizations, treatment facilities – for negligent hiring, supervision, and retention. These claims require establishing that the institution knew or should have known about the risk posed by the individual and failed to protect those in its care. The applicable SOL for these negligence-based institutional claims is the three-year general personal injury deadline or, for cases involving minors, the previously established age-30 framework, subject to the discovery rule.
Discovery rule:
New Hampshire recognizes a discovery rule that starts the limitations clock when the survivor knew or reasonably should have known both the injury and its cause. This is particularly important for survivors who only connected childhood abuse to its psychological effects later in life.
Criminal conviction not required:
Civil claims may proceed regardless of whether any criminal prosecution was brought. If criminal charges resulted in conviction, that conviction can serve as powerful evidence in a civil case under collateral estoppel principles.
New Hampshire Sexual Assault Attorneys
Stephen Law Group
Offices: Manchester and Concord, NH; also Methuen and North Andover, MA; Saco, ME
Phone: (877) 663-1007
Website: https://www.stephenlaw.com
Stephen Law Group is a regional personal injury firm with offices in Manchester and Concord, New Hampshire, that routinely represents survivors of sexual assault in civil claims throughout the state. The firm handles direct perpetrator claims, negligence-based claims against institutions including employers and property owners for inadequate security, and vicarious liability claims against employers of abusers. The firm is also licensed in Massachusetts and Maine, making it well-positioned for cases involving multistate issues. Free confidential consultation. Contingency fee basis.
Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC
Address: Manchester, NH
Phone: (603) 624-7200 / (800) 984-3151
Website: https://www.manningzimmermanlaw.com
Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira is a Manchester personal injury firm with decades of experience handling sexual assault civil claims across New Hampshire. The firm pursues claims against direct abusers and institutional defendants including public and private organizations that fail to adequately supervise, screen, or retain safe personnel. They have been active in New Hampshire victim’s rights advocacy and helped educate survivors about the expanded rights created by HB 705. Free confidential consultation. Contingency fee.
Gottesman & Hollis, P.A.
Address: Nashua, NH
Phone: (603) 810-8384
Website: https://www.nh-lawyers.com
Gottesman & Hollis is a Nashua personal injury firm that represents survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse in civil claims. The firm handles direct perpetrator claims under New Hampshire’s unlimited SOL, institutional negligence cases, and claims involving grooming or abuse in trusted relationships (teachers, coaches, clergy, medical professionals). The firm prepares every case for trial, creating leverage for favorable settlements while remaining ready to litigate. Free consultation. Contingency fee.
Parnell, Michels & McKay
Website: https://pmmlawyers.com
Parnell Michels & McKay is a New Hampshire civil litigation firm that handles sexual assault claims and has provided public analysis on the implications of HB 705 for survivors. The firm’s attorneys are licensed in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Free consultation.
Shaheen & Gordon, P.A.
Website: https://www.shaheengordon.com
Shaheen & Gordon is a statewide New Hampshire firm handling sexual assault, harassment, and student victim claims against educational institutions. The firm both advises on Title IX obligations and represents student victims where educational institutions failed to meet their legal duty to protect. Available statewide. Free consultation.
Key Considerations for New Hampshire Survivors
No civil SOL against the direct perpetrator. Under HB 705 (RSA 508:4-g), effective September 18, 2020, there is no civil deadline to sue the individual who sexually assaulted you – for conduct qualifying under RSA 632-A (sexual assault) or RSA 639:2 (incest). This applies to both childhood abuse survivors and adult assault survivors.
Institutional claims have stricter deadlines. The no-deadline rule does not automatically extend to negligence claims against schools, churches, employers, and other organizations. The New Hampshire Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of at least one previously time-barred institutional claim brought after 2020. Consult an attorney immediately if institutional liability is involved.
The reform was not made explicitly retroactive. New Hampshire’s law does not contain explicit retroactivity language. Previously expired claims may remain barred, depending on whether the defendant’s right not to be sued had “vested” before September 18, 2020. This is a fact-specific legal question requiring attorney analysis.
Criminal charges still have a six-year adult SOL. Even though civil claims against the perpetrator have no deadline, criminal prosecution for adult-victim offenses must be commenced within six years. For childhood sexual abuse, the criminal SOL extends to age 40.
No conviction needed for civil recovery. A civil lawsuit can proceed regardless of whether any criminal charges were filed or resulted in conviction. The civil burden of proof (preponderance of the evidence) is significantly lower than the criminal standard (beyond a reasonable doubt).
New Hampshire Youth Development Center (YDC) cases: A sweeping set of civil and criminal cases has been brought by survivors of abuse at the state-run youth detention facility. These cases involve complex issues of governmental immunity and institutional liability against the state of New Hampshire. Survivors with YDC-related claims should consult an attorney experienced in governmental liability litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a statute of limitations for sexual assault civil claims in New Hampshire?
For claims against the direct perpetrator, no – HB 705 eliminated the civil SOL for sexual assault and incest effective September 18, 2020. For negligence-based claims against third parties and institutions, the standard personal injury SOL applies and the 2020 reform may not help depending on the timeline.
Can I still sue if my abuse occurred decades ago?
Possibly, depending on who you are suing. Against the direct perpetrator, the no-deadline rule applies. Against an institution, the answer depends on whether your claim was already time-barred before September 18, 2020 and whether a court would find the defendant’s right not to be sued had vested. Consult an attorney.
Was HB 705 made retroactive?
The statute itself does not contain explicit retroactivity language. Whether previously expired claims are revived is subject to constitutional analysis and has been contested in New Hampshire courts. The New Hampshire Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of at least one claim that had expired before 2020.
Do I need a criminal conviction to file a civil lawsuit?
No. Civil and criminal cases are entirely separate. You may pursue civil compensation without any criminal charges having been filed or resulting in conviction.