Amy K. Beaton

Attorney Amy K. Beaton practices exclusively in the areas of criminal defense, estate planning, and elder law. She has over 25 years of trial experience in New Hampshire courts, and has a strong track record defending clients against both state and federal criminal charges.

Amy’s success as a litigator stems from more than just knowledge of the law or trial experience, although she has both. She genuinely cares about her clients, their families, and their futures; her commitment to protecting their well-being has earned her a reputation as a fierce advocate. Amy is a familiar and respected presence in courts across the state and is known for both her dedication to her clients and effectiveness at trial. Her strong reputation as a skilled and ethical professional accrues to her clients’ benefit.

Experience and Approach to Practice

After graduation from law school, Amy moved to El Paso, Texas with her husband and began working in the Office of the Federal Public Defender, where she worked on many complex cases. Already a Spanish speaker, Amy sharpened both her fluency and her litigation skills in that fast-paced environment. She and her husband returned to New England to raise their children closer to extended family, and Amy accepted a position with the New Hampshire Public Defender’s Program, where she acquired extensive trial experience representing clients in counties across the state.

Much of Amy’s approach to practice has been shaped by her years as a criminal defense attorney working with various Rockingham County specialty courts, including Mental Health Court, Drug Court, and Veterans’ Court. These alternative sentencing courts recognize the fact that people with mental health or substance issues need treatment, not jail. As defense representative on these courts, Amy has assisted many individuals dealing with mental health issues, helping them not only navigate the legal system, but the mental health system.

Amy’s long experience with the specialty courts cemented her dedication to working with vulnerable populations. Her decision to expand her practice to include estate planning and elder law was driven by the experiences of her own family members, and the realization that there was a significant need for dedicated elder law attorneys in the Seacoast region and throughout New Hampshire. As an elder law attorney, she helps families and seniors plan to secure their futures and obtain needed care while preserving their hard-earned assets.

Amy K. Beaton is a member of the New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NHACDL) and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

More About Amy K. Beaton

Amy and her husband, Doug, are the parents of a daughter, Annabelle, and a son, Jack, who died by suicide in 2016. That devastating loss deepened Amy’s commitment to helping clients who struggle with mental health challenges, and to supporting their families. Amy is also involved with Connor’s Climb Foundation, a nonprofit agency that promotes mental health awareness and provides suicide prevention education to schools and communities. She has served as vice president of that organization since 2017.

When not working or volunteering, Amy enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, photography, and walking on the beach, scanning the sand and water for sea glass.