Back to Connecticut
Branford-North Branford Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Branford-North Branford Probate Court, PD-35 |
| Courthouse address | 1019 Main Street, Branford, CT 06405 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 150, Branford, CT 06405 |
| Phone | (203) 488-0318 |
| Fax | (203) 315-4715 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern time. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published on the court page. |
| Filing 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. |
| Local forms | Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Branford-North Branford Probate Court uses the same numbered PC forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court, published free by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator. |
| eFiling status | The statewide eFiling system is powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1; registration is optional for everyone else. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a. |
| Case lookup | Connecticut Case Lookup is available at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. Filter to PD35 for Branford-North Branford Probate Court. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to the present. |
| Remote participation | Connecticut Probate Courts may allow participation by electronic means on request under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. It is a court decision, not a right, and the rule names no platform. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/branford-north-branford-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing anything in Branford, make a first pass at what the decedent owned, what was jointly held, what had a beneficiary, and what debts, taxes, and funeral expenses remain. Connecticut estate settlement turns on both probate assets and assets that may pass outside probate, because the later probate fee is computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
Sunset can help organize that first pass by searching more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then turning the results into a probate packet for the Branford-North Branford Probate Court. That preparation helps you choose the right local filing path and avoid mailing an incomplete original will, petition, or estate tax return due within six months.
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 Branford-North Branford Probate Court serves Branford and North Branford, which are two separate Connecticut towns in PD-35 (C.G.S. section 45a-2). Both towns file at the single office in Branford.
If the decedent was domiciled in Branford or North Branford and left a will, the executor applies in this court within thirty days after death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). If the decedent died intestate, the Probate Court for the district where the decedent was domiciled has jurisdiction to grant letters of administration (C.G.S. section 45a-303). If a nonresident decedent owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 supplies the possible Connecticut districts.
A decedent domiciled in Guilford, East Haven, North Haven, or another nearby town uses a different Probate Court. Use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator if you are not sure which Connecticut probate district applies (C.G.S. section 45a-2). A decision of the Branford-North Branford Probate Court may be appealed to the Superior Court, generally within thirty days (C.G.S. section 45a-186).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct Branford-North Branford filing. Use this court only if the decedent was domiciled in Branford or North Branford, or if a nonresident estate belongs here under the Connecticut property venue rule (C.G.S. section 45a-283, C.G.S. section 45a-287, C.G.S. section 45a-303).
- Prepare the opening forms. A full estate starts with PC-200, Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, filed for a will under C.G.S. section 45a-283 or for an intestate estate under C.G.S. section 45a-303. If the estate qualifies for the affidavit in lieu process, PC-212 is tied to C.G.S. section 45a-273.
- File with the Branford office. File at 1019 Main Street in Branford or mail papers to P.O. Box 150, Branford, CT 06405. The Connecticut Probate Courts run one statewide eFiling system, powered by TurboCourt; attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, while registration is optional for everyone else. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
- Plan for the later court bill. 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 Branford-North Branford 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 notice and hearing instructions. The court may send hearing notice, act after waivers, or use Connecticut's streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. The court's public page does not publish Branford-North Branford hearing days or a docket.
- Request remote participation if travel is difficult. Connecticut Probate Courts may allow a party, witness or attorney to take part in a hearing, conference or deposition by electronic means. Section 66.1 of the Probate Court Rules of Procedure lets the court permit it on request or on its own motion, weighing factors that include the nature of the proceeding, the technology available, and whether remote participation would still allow full examination of witnesses. It is a request the court decides, not a right, and the rule names no platform. Ask the clerk of the Branford-North Branford Probate Court what that court expects.
- Receive proof of authority. When the Probate Court appoints you, the court's clerk issues a certificate of your appointment as fiduciary. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200 that certificate is sufficient evidence of your authority and identity for one year from the date it is issued, so a bank or transfer agent may ask for a recently issued copy. Ask the clerk of the Branford-North Branford Probate Court for as many certified copies as you expect to need, and expect to request fresh ones if the estate stays open past a year.
- Administer and close the estate. File the decedent's-estate inventory on PC-2407 within the Connecticut inventory period under C.G.S. section 45a-341, follow the creditor notice and claims process under C.G.S. section 45a-354, C.G.S. section 45a-356, and C.G.S. section 45a-361, file the Connecticut estate tax return within six months, then close with the required financial report or account and any court-directed affidavit of closing.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Branford-North Branford Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Branford-North Branford 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 | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| PC-200 | Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, used to open a full decedent's estate. | C.G.S. section 45a-283 |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration for the small-estates procedure. | C.G.S. section 45a-273 |
| PC-2407 | Inventory/Decedents' Estates. | C.G.S. section 45a-341 |
| PC-237 | Return of Claims and List of Notified Creditors. | C.G.S. section 45a-361 |
| PC-246 | Financial Report/Decedent's Estate, a common closing document. | Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19 |
| PC-213 | Affidavit of Closing, filed when the court directs it after distribution. | Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12 |
| PC-482 | Appointment of Probate Judge as Agent for Service by Non-Resident Fiduciary. | Used when the fiduciary lives outside Connecticut. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Branford-North Branford path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in Branford or North Branford, start with the Branford-North Branford Probate Court 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. | Sunset helps identify jointly held accounts, beneficiary assets, debts, and estate settlement tasks so the spouse can separate what needs a court decree from what may transfer outside probate. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the decedent lived in Branford or North Branford, papers can be mailed to P.O. Box 150, Branford, CT 06405. The original will must still travel on paper under section 7.1a. If the estate uses PC-212, the affidavit in lieu procedure is governed by C.G.S. section 45a-273. A fiduciary living outside Connecticut may need PC-482 by function, as an appointment of the Probate Judge as agent for service. | Sunset helps build the asset list, generate the probate packet, and flag what must be mailed to the Branford office rather than handled through eFiling under section 22.1. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of solely owned real estate usually means full administration through PC-200 in the Branford-North Branford Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. After appointment, the certificate of appointment is the proof a title company will expect, and it is effective for one year under C.G.S. section 45a-200. A contested decree is appealed to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. | Sunset helps organize real estate, mortgage, tax, and account information, then connects the family with local probate counsel when a sale or dispute makes estate settlement harder to manage alone. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Branford-North Branford Probate Court | Filing office for estates of people domiciled in Branford or North Branford. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural assistance but cannot give legal advice. | 1019 Main Street, Branford, CT 06405. Mailing: P.O. Box 150, Branford, CT 06405. Phone (203) 488-0318. Fax (203) 315-4715. https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/branford-north-branford-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for the correct Connecticut Probate Court if the decedent lived outside Branford or North Branford. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search for decedents' estates and trusts. Filter to PD35 for Branford-North Branford Probate Court. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Connecticut probate forms | Statewide PC form catalogue from the Office of the Probate Court Administrator. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/forms-list |
| Administration of Decedents' Estates user guide | The Probate Court Administrator's 2026 plain-English guide to Connecticut decedent estates. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Connecticut probate fee calculators | State calculators for the probate fee later invoiced under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests | Form PC-2 for a disability accommodation. The ADA contact number listed for this court is the court's main number. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada. Phone (203) 488-0318. |
| New Haven Law Library | Connecticut Judicial Branch law library serving the New Haven Judicial District, which includes Branford and North Branford. Call or check the law library site before travelling. | 235 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510. Phone (203) 503-6828. https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/ |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Statewide legal-aid intake for people with low income. | 1-800-453-3320. https://slsct.org/ |
| CTLawHelp.org | General Connecticut civil legal-help finder. | https://ctlawhelp.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Connecticut's Probate Court Administrator says estate matters can be complex and that the advice of a lawyer is strongly recommended, while the decedent's-estate user guide says a lawyer is not required but often advisable. Counsel is especially useful if the Branford or North Branford estate includes real estate to sell, unclear heirs, a contested will, tax issues, a nonresident fiduciary, or a likely appeal to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families discover financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, debts, and other property that may affect estate settlement, including assets that pass outside probate but still matter for the Connecticut probate fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized probate packet for the Branford-North Branford Probate Court, including the local court address, the statewide forms, and reminders about paper originals that cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects you with a vetted Connecticut probate attorney who can advise on court filings, real estate, fiduciary duties, and disputes.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a guided estate settlement workspace, document organization, asset discovery support, and attorney matching without charging families to use the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Branford-North Branford Probate Court located?
The court is at 1019 Main Street, Branford, CT 06405. Mail goes to P.O. Box 150, Branford, CT 06405. The phone number is (203) 488-0318 and the fax number is (203) 315-4715.
I live in North Branford. Which Probate Court do I use?
Use the Branford-North Branford Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in North Branford. Branford and North Branford are two separate towns, both in Connecticut probate district PD-35 (C.G.S. section 45a-2), and the office is in Branford.
What are the Branford-North Branford Probate Court's hours?
The published hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern time. The court page does not publish a lunch closure or filing cutoff.
What does it cost to open a decedent's estate in Branford or North Branford?
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.
Are there separate Branford-North Branford probate forms?
No. Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Branford-North Branford Probate Court uses the numbered PC forms published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator.
Can I file online with the Branford-North Branford Probate Court?
The statewide eFiling system is powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys who appear in a probate matter must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1; 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 Branford-North Branford Probate Court estate online?
Use Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD35. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to the present.
Can I attend a Branford-North Branford Probate Court hearing remotely?
Connecticut Probate Courts may allow participation by electronic means under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. The rule makes it a request for the court to decide, not a right, and it does not name a platform. Ask the clerk what the Branford-North Branford Probate Court expects for your hearing.
Who issues proof that I can act for the estate?
The clerk issues a certificate of appointment after the Probate Court appoints the fiduciary. The certificate of appointment is sufficient evidence of authority and identity for one year under C.G.S. section 45a-200.
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.