About Craighead & Martin, PLLC

About Craighead & Martin, PLLC — General Practice Manchester, New Hampshire

General practice Manchester clients and New Hampshire families dealing with estate planning, divorce, and family law matters have found a remarkably trusted partner in Craighead & Martin, PLLC at 91 Middle Street. Attorneys Joanne Craighead and Debbie Martin-Demers have built the firm on a foundation of approachability, deep legal knowledge, and a genuine commitment to making complex legal processes feel manageable. Joanne’s estate planning work in particular is described as a transformation for clients who arrive anxious and leave feeling confident and prepared. Debbie’s family law and custody practice earns equal praise for her directness, empathy, and ability to keep children’s best interests at the center of every contested matter. Those seeking a Manchester, New Hampshire attorney who treats every client with personal care and intellectual rigor will find Craighead & Martin among the Granite State’s most consistently recommended firms.

Long-term client relationships are a hallmark of this firm. One reviewer has relied on Joanne Craighead for nearly 15 years across a divorce, probate, estate planning, and an advance directive — describing her as always ensuring full client understanding and being “mindful of my budget.” Another reviewer describes making a trust as surprisingly enjoyable, crediting Joanne’s humor and methodical communication style with turning a daunting task into “fun and effective” work. Debbie Martin-Demers draws deeply personal praise from clients who say she helped them feel better as people, not just as legal clients.

What Clients Say

Reviewers consistently describe both attorneys as knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely invested in each client’s life outcomes. One client says Joanne “stood head and shoulders above the rest” across a decade of navigating life’s challenges. Another describes Debbie as better than a therapist — direct, caring, and unfailingly focused on what’s best for the child. Front desk receptionist Adele earns her own praise for kindness and consistency across multiple engagements.

General Practice Manchester — Practice Areas & Services

General practice legal representation for Manchester and southern New Hampshire
Estate planning including wills, trusts, and advance directives
Divorce proceedings including contested and uncontested matters
Family law including custody, support, and parenting plans
Probate and estate administration
Civil litigation and dispute resolution
Long-term client relationships across multiple life stages

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Craighead & Martin handle general legal matters beyond estate planning in Manchester?

Yes. The firm covers divorce, custody, probate, litigation, and general civil legal needs for Manchester and broader southern New Hampshire. Both attorneys bring multi-decade experience across their respective specializations, making Craighead & Martin a comprehensive single-firm resource.

What makes Craighead & Martin distinctive for estate planning clients in New Hampshire?

Clients describe Joanne Craighead’s ability to simplify complex trust and estate concepts using clear, accessible language — making documents understandable without removing the precision the law requires. Her reasonable fees and all-inclusive approach to follow-up questions also receive consistent praise.

Quick Facts: General Practice in Manchester, New Hampshire

NH probate courts: New Hampshire’s Circuit Court — Probate Division handles estate administration, trusts, and guardianship matters, with Hillsborough County serving Manchester and surrounding towns — New Hampshire Judicial Branch
NH divorce filing: New Hampshire allows no-fault divorce on grounds of irreconcilable differences, with residency requirements typically met after living in the state for one year — NH RSA 458
NH estate planning: New Hampshire has no state estate tax or inheritance tax, making it one of the more estate-planning-friendly states in New England for asset transfers — NH Department of Revenue Administration

What People Say About Craighead & Martin, PLLC

Craighead & Martin, PLLC, located in Manchester, New Hampshire, offers exceptional legal services, specializing in family law, divorce, and estate planning. Clients consistently praise the firm for its excellent communication, professionalism, and the thorough knowledge of its attorneys, particularly Joanne Craighead and Debbie Martin-Demers, who make complex legal matters accessible and stress-free. With a focus on client comfort and understanding, the firm’s approachable staff ensures that every question is answered, making the legal process not only manageable but also a positive experience for their clients.

Google Reviews for Craighead & Martin, PLLC

Excellent communication and professionalism. Very knowledgeable and answered all questions thoroughly. I have already recommended Joanne Craighead.

What a relief to find Joanne at Craighead & Martin PLLC. Something I thought would be overwhelming was made simple and understandable. She took all the time we needed and made it clear she was available for any questions that might arise in future. Her fee was more reasonable than we had hoped, included everything, including any clarifications needed in the future. Really grateful to have our matters handled so professionally by someone we knew to be both competent and nice.

Joanne made creating a will and trust so easy. Her agility of the English language helped my understanding (or lack thereof) of the tasks at hand. When we met, she explained things in a methodical way and creating the trust was far easier than I thought it would be. She has a good sense of humor which is always a help. I highly recommend Attn Craighead. Working with her was fun and effective.

I have been a client of Joanne’s for almost 15 years. She helped me through my divorce, probate and estate navigation upon the death of my former spouse, my own advance directives and most recently, establishing a trust. Joanne has always ensured that I am comfortable with our decisions and that I really understand what I’m doing. I trust her implicitly and am very grateful for her compassion and wealth of knowledge. She is always mindful of my budget too. I couldn’t have gotten through the big life issues without her. Thank you!

Joanne is very down to earth and easy to talk to! She’s knowledgeable and has some great advice!

JoAnn was super helpful and knowledgeable! We felt very comfortable talking with her. Trustworthy sums it all up!

My husband and I worked with Joanne Craighead at Craighead and Martin to create our estate plan. Joanne was very helpful and took her time to explain everything in detail. She answered all of our questions in a clear and concise way, and she was very thorough in her explanations. We felt very comfortable with her and her knowledge of estate planning law.

Richard and I would like to thank Joanne Craighead for her wonderful expertise in her field. She put our minds to rest on our future and gave wonderful information that helped us to handle different situations as husband and wife. We are very pleased with the service we received and all the paperwork to satisfy our needs going forward. I would recommend Joanne for sure.

If you want someone who will truly look out for your best interest, someone who hears what you are looking for and someone who will get the job done in the the best possible time, then you need to see Joanne C Craighead . She is sharp with a great attitude and reasonably priced.

I dont write reveiws but every once in a while someone stands head and shoulders above the rest. Joanne and her staff of professionals certainly made the grade navigating me thru a few of lifes challenges in the past decade. You were a Blessing when i needed one! God Bless

I will not go anywhere else for my Family Law needs. Debbie has consistently been a valuable resource when confronted with my complicated Divorce and Custody proceedings. She is real with you and handles difficult conversations with poise. She is empathetic and straightforward while answering all questions. Every time we met I felt completely informed and ready to tackle the challenges before me. Whether you are looking for advice or are ready to hire a lawyer full-time for your case, I highly recommend Debbie Martin-Demers.

Debbie was very knowledgeable and helpful reviewing all details of my case from both parties. She was very patient with every question I asked and helped me to understand when I didn’t. She gave me advice and listened to any concerns or thoughts I had. I would highly recommend Debbie!

I have been going back and forth about getting a divorce and had the pleasure of having Debbie Martin Demers represent me.

Im really shocked at the reviews on here. I have had Deb as my lawyer for years! Deb is always for the child. She is amazing. I have called Deb many times upset and she always makes me feel better. She lays it out pretty direct on what the worse thing could happen is and what the best thing that could happen is. My children love her! I see her for one of my children, and my child knows that she is there to protect her too. I have had wonderful results with Deb, she has been through a lot with me and genuinely cares which is rare in a lawyer. If they haven’t heard from me in a while, they will call and and check to make sure my family and I are doing okay. Deb is better than a therapist. I thank God all the time for the friend that recommended her to me. If someone is going through Family court Deb is the lawyer to go to. I highly recommend her!! Oh and I can’t leave out Adele. She is the receptionist and the sweetest lady. We adore her too!

Expert, Skillful and knowledgeable.

Craighead & Martin, PLLC