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HB 652

abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by J.D. Bernardy and 1 co-sponsor

HB 652 replaces New Hampshire's family division courts with a mediation-based office, reassigning cases elsewhere, fundamentally altering how family law disputes are resolved statewide.

Lay HB652 on Table (Rep. DeSimone): MA DV 268-66 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 113
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Bill Summary · HB 652

Legislative bill overview

HB 652 proposes to abolish New Hampshire's family division court system and replace it with a new office of family mediation, while reassigning family law cases to other judicial venues. The bill fundamentally restructures how the state handles family law matters, shifting from traditional court adjudication toward mediation-based dispute resolution.

Why is this important

Family law cases—involving divorce, custody, child support, and domestic relations—affect thousands of New Hampshire residents annually. This restructuring would alter how disputes are resolved, potentially changing access to justice, case processing speed, and legal protections. The approach reflects a broader policy debate about whether adversarial courts or mediation better serves families in transition.

Potential points of contention

  • Access to justice concerns: Mediation requires agreement between parties; cases involving domestic violence, power imbalances, or uncooperative spouses may struggle without court authority to compel participation or enforce outcomes
  • Judicial expertise loss: Eliminating a specialized family division removes judges trained in nuanced family law; reassigning cases to general courts may reduce decision quality and consistency
  • Implementation feasibility: Establishing new mediation infrastructure requires funding, trained mediators, and clear procedures for cases that cannot be mediated; the bill's mechanism for handling disputes that don't resolve through mediation is unclear

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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