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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

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Probate in Connecticut

What Connecticut’s own law and courts say about probate, from how an estate comes before the court to when creditors must claim. Nothing on this page decides whether a particular estate needs probate. That question belongs to the court, or to an attorney in Connecticut.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

The free first-week checklist

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

What the Probate Courts have jurisdiction over, in their own words

Probate Courts have jurisdiction over the administration and oversight of trusts and estates.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Connecticut Probate Courts

How the Probate Courts are organized

Connecticut's 54 Probate Courts are organized on a regional basis to provide convenient access for court users.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Connecticut Probate Courts, FAQ

Whether an attorney is needed, in the Probate Courts’ own words

Individuals involved in probate cases have the option of hiring an attorney but are not generally required to be represented by an attorney. Probate Court forms are designed to be user-friendly. A person should consider hiring an attorney if the case is contested or if the case involves complex legal questions.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Connecticut Probate Courts, FAQ

What a named executor must do, how soon, and the fine for neglecting it

(a) Every person having knowledge of his designation in a will as an executor of a testator's estate shall, within thirty days next after the death of the testator, apply for probate of the will to the court of probate of the district where the testator was domiciled at his death.

(b) Every such person neglecting to do so shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-283

The court’s petition form: who may use it, the acceptance of trust, and what to attach

Petition/Administration or Probate of Will

Any person may use this form to petition the court for administration or probate of a will and the appointment of an administrator or executor. Each proposed fiduciary must sign the acceptance of trust.

Attach a copy of the decedent’s death certificate (with the social security number redacted) along with the original will and codicils, if any.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Connecticut Probate Courts form PC-200 (rev. 07/23)

Who the court appoints when there is no will, and in what order

the court of probate having jurisdiction shall grant administration of the intestate decedent's estate to any one or more persons or their designees appointed in the following order, provided such person or persons are entitled to share in the estate of the decedent: (A) The surviving spouse, (B) any child of the decedent or any guardian of such child as the court shall determine, (C) any grandchild of the decedent

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-303(c)(1)

How long after a death an estate can still be opened, and the exception

administration of the estate of any person shall not be granted, nor shall the will of any person be admitted to probate, after ten years from his decease, unless the Court of Probate upon written petition and after public notice and hearing finds that administration of such estate ought to be granted

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-330

The newspaper notice to creditors, and a claim that arrives after the fiduciary has paid out in good faith

Newspaper notice shall be made within fourteen days after the appointment of the first fiduciary.

If any claim is not presented on or before the day which is one hundred fifty days from the date of the appointment of the first fiduciary, no fiduciary shall be chargeable for any assets that a fiduciary may have paid or distributed in good faith in satisfaction of any lawful claims, expenses or taxes or to any beneficiary before such claim was presented.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-354(a); §45a-356(a)

The outer time limit on any claim against the estate

no claim may be presented and no suit on such claim may be commenced against the fiduciary, the estate of the decedent, or any creditor or beneficiary of such estate but within (1) two years from the date of the decedent's death or (2) the date upon which the statute of limitations applicable to such claim … would otherwise have expired, whichever shall first occur.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-375(c)

The Probate Court fees: one scale for every district, how they are figured, and the surviving spouse’s share

The fees charged by Probate Courts shall be uniform for all of the probate districts established by law.

Any portion of the basis for fees that is determined by property passing to the surviving spouse shall be reduced by fifty per cent.

$10,000 to $500,000 $150, plus .35% of all in excess of $10,000

$8,877,000 and over $40,000

if the basis for fees is less than ten thousand dollars and a full estate is opened, the minimum fee shall be one hundred fifty dollars.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-105; §45a-107(b)(1)–(3)

What the person holding the will must do, how soon, and the penalty for neglecting it

(a) Any person having in his possession any will or codicil shall, forthwith, after he has knowledge of the death of the testator, deliver such will either to the person designated to be the executor or one of the persons designated to be an executor thereof, or to the judge, clerk or assistant clerk of the court of probate which by law has jurisdiction of the estate of such deceased person.

(b) On the neglect of such person to do so within the period of thirty days after he has knowledge of the death of the testator, he shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-282

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

Individuals involved in probate cases have the option of hiring an attorney but are not generally required to be represented by an attorney. Probate Court forms are designed to be user-friendly. A person should consider hiring an attorney if the case is contested or if the case involves complex legal questions.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Connecticut Probate Courts, FAQ

(a) Every person having knowledge of his designation in a will as an executor of a testator's estate shall, within thirty days next after the death of the testator, apply for probate of the will to the court of probate of the district where the testator was domiciled at his death.

(b) Every such person neglecting to do so shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars.

(a) Any person having in his possession any will or codicil shall, forthwith, after he has knowledge of the death of the testator, deliver such will either to the person designated to be the executor or one of the persons designated to be an executor thereof, or to the judge, clerk or assistant clerk of the court of probate which by law has jurisdiction of the estate of such deceased person.

(b) On the neglect of such person to do so within the period of thirty days after he has knowledge of the death of the testator, he shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-282

Petition/Administration or Probate of Will

Any person may use this form to petition the court for administration or probate of a will and the appointment of an administrator or executor. Each proposed fiduciary must sign the acceptance of trust.

Attach a copy of the decedent’s death certificate (with the social security number redacted) along with the original will and codicils, if any.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Connecticut Probate Courts form PC-200 (rev. 07/23)

(a) Every person having knowledge of his designation in a will as an executor of a testator's estate shall, within thirty days next after the death of the testator, apply for probate of the will to the court of probate of the district where the testator was domiciled at his death.

(b) Every such person neglecting to do so shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-283

The fees charged by Probate Courts shall be uniform for all of the probate districts established by law.

Any portion of the basis for fees that is determined by property passing to the surviving spouse shall be reduced by fifty per cent.

$10,000 to $500,000 $150, plus .35% of all in excess of $10,000

$8,877,000 and over $40,000

if the basis for fees is less than ten thousand dollars and a full estate is opened, the minimum fee shall be one hundred fifty dollars.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-105; §45a-107(b)(1)–(3)

Newspaper notice shall be made within fourteen days after the appointment of the first fiduciary.

If any claim is not presented on or before the day which is one hundred fifty days from the date of the appointment of the first fiduciary, no fiduciary shall be chargeable for any assets that a fiduciary may have paid or distributed in good faith in satisfaction of any lawful claims, expenses or taxes or to any beneficiary before such claim was presented.

no claim may be presented and no suit on such claim may be commenced against the fiduciary, the estate of the decedent, or any creditor or beneficiary of such estate but within (1) two years from the date of the decedent's death or (2) the date upon which the statute of limitations applicable to such claim … would otherwise have expired, whichever shall first occur.

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-375(c)

the court of probate having jurisdiction shall grant administration of the intestate decedent's estate to any one or more persons or their designees appointed in the following order, provided such person or persons are entitled to share in the estate of the decedent: (A) The surviving spouse, (B) any child of the decedent or any guardian of such child as the court shall determine, (C) any grandchild of the decedent

Connecticut · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-303(c)(1)

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