New Hampshire Noncompete Agreement: What's Included and Enforceability

Quick Facts — Noncompete Agreement Lawyers

Is a Non-Compete Agreement Enforceable in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, non-compete agreements can be enforced as long as they meet specific standards laid out in state legislation. These standards include:

  1. A non-compete cannot be entered into by a low wage employee. Under the state statute, low wage is less than or equal to 200% of the federal minimum wage.
  2. Employees must be presented with a non-compete agreement before accepting the job offer. Any non-compete agreements given to the employee after acceptance will not be enforceable.

The two types of employees who are prohibited from entering non-compete agreements in New Hampshire are attorneys and physicians.

How Long Does a New Hampshire Non-Compete Agreement Last?

The Supreme Court of New Hampshire has determined that non-competes that last up to five years are reasonable and enforceable under certain circumstances. When determining reasonability of a non-compete term, courts will look at several factors like the geographic limitations and the type of work an activity prohibited by the agreement.

How Do You Get Around a Non-Compete Agreement in New Hampshire?

If an employee in New Hampshire wants to get around or terminate a non-compete agreement, they must show that the agreement is unreasonable. A non-compete is unreasonable when it is overly restrictive, puts an undue hardship on the employee, or causes injury to the public.

When terms are overly broad or unreasonable, a court has two options. They can either strike down the entire contract or they can modify the unreasonable term and enforce the rest of the contract. This is called blue penciling and can only be done when the employer has acted in good faith.

What Voids a Non-Compete Agreement in New Hampshire?

A non-compete agreement will be void in New Hampshire if it was signed by an employee under duress, coercion, or fraud. For a contract to be enforceable and valid, it needs to be entered into voluntarily.

Frequently Asked Questions

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To be able to answer this question, I would need to see the agreements. No one can answer your question without seeing the agreements.

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