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Berlin Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Berlin Probate Court, PD-08 |
| Address | One Liberty Square, New Britain, CT 06051 |
| Mailing | The court publishes no separate mailing address, so mail goes to One Liberty Square, New Britain, CT 06051. |
| Phone | (860) 826-2696 |
| Fax | (860) 826-2695 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern time. In July and August only, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., eastern time. Call before travelling. |
| Opening cost | No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. The Probate Court invoices a statutory fee later, computed on the value of the estate under C.G.S. section 45a-107. |
| Forms | Connecticut PC forms are statewide. The Berlin Probate Court uses the same forms as every Connecticut Probate Court and does not publish forms of its own. |
| Online filing | The statewide eFiling system is powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register, registration is optional for everyone else, and the original will cannot be eFiled (Probate Court Rules of Procedure, sections 22.1 and 7.1a). |
| Search | Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. Filter to PD08 - Berlin Probate Court. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to present, with incomplete earlier information. |
| Electronic participation | A party, witness or attorney may ask to take part in a hearing, conference or deposition by electronic means, but it is the court's decision under section 66.1 of the Probate Court Rules of Procedure. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/berlin-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything at the Berlin Probate Court, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, debts, real estate, vehicles, beneficiary designations and jointly owned property. That matters in Connecticut because the court invoices the probate fee later under C.G.S. section 45a-107, and the Connecticut estate tax return is due to the Probate Court within six months even when a full estate is not opened.
For this district, the filing office is One Liberty Square in New Britain for both Berlin and New Britain decedents. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families start estate settlement with a clearer asset list, and it is especially useful before making a summer Friday trip, when the court closes at 2:00 p.m. in July and August.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Connecticut probate is handled by a separate statewide system of 54 Probate Courts, one for each probate district, not by the Superior Court and not by any county (C.G.S. section 45a-2). The Berlin Probate Court serves exactly two towns: Berlin and New Britain (C.G.S. section 45a-2). The office is in New Britain, at One Liberty Square, and it is the filing office for estates of people domiciled in either town.
If the decedent was domiciled in Berlin or New Britain and left a will, the person named as executor applies for probate of the will in this court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the person died intestate, this court has jurisdiction to grant letters of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-303. For a nonresident who owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 gives the possible Connecticut districts, and the court that first assumes jurisdiction keeps it.
If the person lived in a nearby town rather than Berlin or New Britain, use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator. Nearby towns may be assigned to different Probate Courts even when they are close to One Liberty Square.
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets and liabilities first. Include accounts, real estate, vehicles, jointly owned property, beneficiary-designated assets and debts, because the Berlin Probate Court invoices the probate fee later under C.G.S. section 45a-107 and the Connecticut estate tax return is due to the Probate Court within six months.
- Choose the statewide Connecticut form path. A full estate generally starts with PC-200, Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, filed in the district where the decedent was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the estate may qualify for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estate procedure, use PC-212 with the required confidential-information form.
- File with the Berlin Probate Court if the person was domiciled in Berlin or New Britain at death. The office and mailing address are One Liberty Square, New Britain, CT 06051. The original will must reach the court on paper and cannot be eFiled under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a. If you use statewide eFiling, attorneys must register and other filers may register under section 22.1.
- Plan around the hours before travelling. The court is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern time, except in July and August, when it is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday only until 2:00 p.m.
- Connecticut does not charge a filing fee to open a decedent's estate. Under section 6.1 of the Probate Court Rules of Procedure, the statutory filing fee is due at filing in every kind of Probate Court matter except a decedent's estate and an accounting. Instead, the Berlin Probate Court bills the estate later. The fee is set by statute and is the same in all 54 Connecticut probate districts (C.G.S. section 45a-105). For a person who died on or after July 1, 2016, it is graduated on the greater of the inventory, the gross estate or the Connecticut taxable estate, running from $25 up to a cap of $40,000, with a minimum of $150 where a full estate is opened on a basis under $10,000, and with any portion passing to a surviving spouse counted at half (C.G.S. section 45a-107). The fee is owed on everything the decedent owned, including assets that pass outside probate, and it is owed whether or not an estate is opened at all. Interest of 0.5 per cent per month runs on a probate fee that is unpaid thirty days after the court's invoice, and separately on the fee of an estate whose Connecticut estate tax return is filed late (C.G.S. section 45a-107). ctprobate.gov publishes a fee calculator at ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators.
- Watch for the court's notice path. Notice of hearing is required when the estate is opened and again when the final financial report or account is filed, but many Connecticut matters proceed through written waivers or the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6.
- If a hearing, conference or deposition is set, ask the clerk what the Berlin Probate Court expects. Connecticut Probate Courts may allow participation by electronic means under section 66.1 of the Probate Court Rules of Procedure, but that is a request the court decides, not a right.
- After appointment, ask the clerk for certificates of appointment. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, the certificate is sufficient evidence of the fiduciary's authority and identity for one year from the date issued, so request enough certified copies for banks, transfer agents and real estate work.
- Administer the estate on the statewide clocks. File the decedent's estate inventory on PC-2407 within two months after qualification, extendable by the court to not more than four months under C.G.S. section 45a-341. The court places the newspaper notice to creditors under C.G.S. section 45a-354, the 150-day claims period is governed by C.G.S. section 45a-356, and the return of claims on PC-237 is governed by C.G.S. section 45a-361.
- Close the estate when settlement is complete. The usual closing filing is a financial report on PC-246 under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, or an account when one is required. After the court approves distribution, complete any affidavit of closing the court directs under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Berlin Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Berlin Probate Court uses the same numbered PC forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court, published free by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator at ctprobate.gov. The court does not publish forms of its own.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| PC-200 | Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, used to open a full estate in the district where the decedent was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283. |
| PC-200CI | Confidential information submitted with PC-200 under the same C.G.S. section 45a-283 filing path. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration, used for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estate procedure. |
| PC-212A and PC-212CI | Related C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estate procedure forms for distribution and confidential information. |
| PC-2407 | Inventory/Decedents' Estates, filed within two months after qualification, subject to C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| PC-237 | Return of Claims and List of Notified Creditors, governed by C.G.S. section 45a-361. |
| PC-246 | Financial Report/Decedent's Estate, the simpler closing report used in many estates under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. |
| PC-2 | Request for Accommodation, used for Probate Court disability accommodation requests. |
The original will is different from a downloadable form. It must reach the Berlin Probate Court on paper and cannot be eFiled under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a.
Local nuance
Berlin Probate Court district-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| The court is in New Britain | The Berlin Probate Court serves Berlin and New Britain, but the office is at One Liberty Square in New Britain. File there for a decedent domiciled in either town (C.G.S. section 45a-2, C.G.S. section 45a-283). |
| Summer Friday hours are shorter | In July and August, the court closes at 2:00 p.m. on Fridays. Call (860) 826-2696 before travelling, especially if you are bringing an original will that cannot be eFiled under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a. |
| New Britain has another courthouse | The Probate Court is at One Liberty Square. The New Britain Judicial District Superior Court is a different building at 20 Franklin Square and matters there are for an appeal from a Probate Court decree under C.G.S. section 45a-186, not for opening an estate. |
| The district is only two towns | Berlin and New Britain are the towns served by this Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-2. If the decedent lived in any other town, use the Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path at the Berlin Probate Court | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in Berlin or New Britain, start with the Berlin Probate Court at One Liberty Square under C.G.S. section 45a-283. A jointly held home may pass outside probate, but the Connecticut estate tax return is still filed with the Probate Court within six months, and the probate fee is computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107 on assets the decedent owned, including assets that pass outside probate. | Sunset helps identify accounts, co-owned property and beneficiary-designated assets so the spouse can see what must be reported, what may pass outside probate and what needs a court filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Papers can be mailed to One Liberty Square, New Britain, CT 06051, but the original will must travel on paper and cannot be eFiled under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a. If the estate fits the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estate procedure, use the statewide PC-212 path; if the fiduciary lives outside Connecticut, expect an additional form appointing the probate judge as agent for service. | Sunset organizes the asset list, helps generate the Connecticut probate packet and helps the adult child decide what can be handled by mail instead of by a trip to New Britain. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Solely owned real estate rules out the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estate procedure, so a sale usually means full administration through PC-200 in the Berlin Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. After appointment, the certificate of appointment under C.G.S. section 45a-200 is the proof a buyer's attorney or title company will expect, and it is good for one year from issue. | Sunset helps locate assets and debts, prepare the forms and connect the parent with a probate attorney when a home sale or disagreement makes estate settlement harder. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin Probate Court | The filing office for estates of people domiciled in Berlin or New Britain at death. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural assistance but cannot give legal advice. | One Liberty Square, New Britain, CT 06051; (860) 826-2696; fax (860) 826-2695; https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/berlin-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for all Connecticut Probate Courts. Use it if the person who died lived somewhere other than Berlin or New Britain. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search for decedents' estates and trusts. Filter to PD08 - Berlin Probate Court. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to present and shows case index information and fiduciary contact information, not filings. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Connecticut probate forms | Statewide PC form catalogue and Trusts and Estates forms used by the Berlin Probate Court. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/forms-list |
| Administration of Decedents' Estates user guide | The Probate Court Administrator's 2026 walkthrough for Connecticut estate settlement, including the clerk's role, the estate tax return due within six months, hearings and closing filings. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Connecticut probate fee calculators | State calculators, including a decedents' estates calculator, for estimating the probate fee invoiced later under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests | A person with a disability may request an accommodation using form PC-2. The Probate Court Administrator asks for at least ten days' notice where possible and allows that timing to be waived in an emergency. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada; Berlin Probate Court accommodation contact: (860) 826-2696 |
| New Britain Law Library | Public Connecticut Judicial Branch law library in the same city as the Probate Court. It may help with legal research, including an appeal to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. | 20 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051; (860) 515-5110; https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/ |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Legal-aid intake for people with very low household income in Connecticut civil matters. It screens matters and may refer to another legal aid program or volunteer attorney. | 1-800-453-3320; https://slsct.org/ |
| CTLawHelp.org | Free Connecticut legal-help library and legal help finder for civil legal topics. Use it as a general legal-help starting point, not as a substitute for Probate Court instructions. | https://ctlawhelp.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Connecticut's Probate Court materials say estate matters can be complex, that a lawyer is not required, and that legal advice is often advisable. Counsel is especially useful in the Berlin Probate Court district when real estate must be sold, the fiduciary lives outside Connecticut, heirs disagree, the Connecticut estate tax return due within six months is uncertain, a claim is disputed, or an appeal to the Superior Court is being considered under C.G.S. section 45a-186. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for accounts and helps build the asset picture before filing, so a Berlin or New Britain family can approach estate settlement with fewer unknowns and a cleaner starting list for the Probate Court.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the family information into the Connecticut probate packet for the right path, including the statewide forms used at the Berlin Probate Court and practical reminders about the paper original will.
Find a local probate attorney. When a home sale, out-of-state fiduciary, disagreement or appeal issue makes the estate more complex, Sunset helps connect the family with a probate attorney who understands Connecticut Probate Court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, find assets and prepare for the next court step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Berlin Probate Court located?
The Berlin Probate Court is at One Liberty Square, New Britain, CT 06051. It serves Berlin and New Britain under C.G.S. section 45a-2, even though the office is in New Britain. The phone number is (860) 826-2696 and the fax number is (860) 826-2695.
I live in New Britain. Which Probate Court do I use?
Use the Berlin Probate Court. New Britain and Berlin are the two towns in probate district PD-08 under C.G.S. section 45a-2, and the filing office is in New Britain at One Liberty Square.
Which towns does the Berlin Probate Court serve?
The Berlin Probate Court serves Berlin and New Britain, and only those two towns, under C.G.S. section 45a-2. If the person lived in another Connecticut town, use the Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator.
What are the Berlin Probate Court's hours?
The court is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern time. In July and August only, the court is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call (860) 826-2696 before travelling.
Is the Berlin Probate Court open on Friday afternoons in the summer?
Only until 2:00 p.m. In July and August, the Berlin Probate Court closes at 2:00 p.m. on Fridays. If you need to deliver an original will, remember that the original will cannot be eFiled under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a.
What does it cost to open a decedent's estate at the Berlin Probate Court?
No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. The Berlin Probate Court invoices a statutory fee later, computed on the value of the estate under C.G.S. section 45a-107. The statewide calculator is at ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators.
Are there separate Berlin Probate Court forms?
No separate Berlin form set is used. Connecticut probate forms are statewide PC forms published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator, and the Berlin Probate Court uses the same forms as every Connecticut Probate Court.
Can I use Connecticut eFiling for the Berlin Probate Court?
The Connecticut Probate Courts use a statewide eFiling system powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, and registration is optional for everyone else. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
How do I look up a Berlin Probate Court estate online?
Use Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter the district dropdown to PD08 - Berlin Probate Court. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to present, with incomplete earlier information. The tool shows case index information and fiduciary contact information, not filings.
Do I have to travel to New Britain for probate?
Papers can be mailed to One Liberty Square, New Britain, CT 06051, and many Connecticut estates proceed without an in-person hearing through written waivers or the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. If a hearing, conference or deposition is set, you may ask to participate by electronic means under section 66.1, but the court decides the request.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.