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Cheshire-Southington Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Court | Cheshire-Southington Probate Court, PD-18 |
| Courthouse address | Town Hall, 84 South Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published by the court page. |
| Phone | (203) 271-6608 |
| Fax | (203) 271-3735 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Filing charge | 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 probate forms | Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The court does not publish forms of its own. |
| E-filing status | Connecticut uses a statewide eFiling system powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for others, but 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 for decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with earlier data incomplete. |
| Participation by electronic means | Available only if the court allows it under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. Ask the clerk what the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court expects. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/cheshire-southington-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing anything at the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court, make a first inventory of what the decedent owned, what passed by joint ownership or beneficiary designation, what debts may exist, and whether the decedent lived in Cheshire or Southington at death. Estate settlement moves faster when you know which assets need court authority and which can be handled outside the estate.
Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, investments and other assets before they choose a filing path. That asset picture also helps with the Connecticut estate tax return, which is tied to the later Probate Court fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
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. sections 45a-2 and 45a-18). The Cheshire-Southington Probate Court serves Cheshire and Southington (C.G.S. section 45a-2). The courthouse is in Cheshire Town Hall, even though Southington estates are filed in the same court when the venue rules point to this district.
If the decedent was domiciled in Cheshire or Southington and left a will, the executor applies to the Probate Court for the district where the person was domiciled at death, within thirty days of death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). If the decedent was domiciled in one of those towns and died intestate, the court for that district has jurisdiction to grant letters of administration (C.G.S. section 45a-303). For a nonresident who owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 supplies the possible Connecticut districts, and the court that first assumes jurisdiction keeps it.
If you are unsure which Probate Court serves a Connecticut town, use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm the correct court. Use the decedent's domicile at death and the town list for PD-18. Cheshire and Southington are served by the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court (C.G.S. section 45a-2). The statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator can also confirm the court by town.
- Choose the Connecticut filing path and gather the statewide forms. A full estate starts with PC-200, filed in the district where a Connecticut resident decedent was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). If the decedent died intestate, C.G.S. section 45a-303 governs letters of administration. If the decedent was not a Connecticut resident but owned Connecticut property, review C.G.S. section 45a-287.
- File with the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court. The courthouse is Town Hall, 84 South Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410. Connecticut eFiling is powered by TurboCourt, and attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for others. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
- Do not bring a counter payment for opening a decedent's estate. 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 Cheshire-Southington 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 from the court. The court may send notice of a hearing, accept written waivers if a hearing is not needed, or use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. The court places the newspaper notice to creditors within fourteen days after appointment of the first fiduciary (C.G.S. section 45a-354).
- Ask early about participation by electronic means 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 Cheshire-Southington Probate Court what that court expects.
- After appointment, get proof of authority from the clerk. 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 all purposes 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 Cheshire-Southington 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 within the statutory time after qualification, using the Connecticut inventory process under C.G.S. section 45a-341. Handle creditor claims under C.G.S. sections 45a-354, 45a-356 and 45a-361, file the Connecticut estate tax return within six months, complete the financial report or account required by the Probate Court Rules of Procedure, and distribute assets only as the court allows.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Cheshire-Southington 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 | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| PC-200 | Petition to open administration or probate a will for a Connecticut resident decedent in the proper district (C.G.S. section 45a-283). | Use this court when the decedent was domiciled in Cheshire or Southington. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in lieu procedure for an eligible estate under C.G.S. section 45a-273. | Filed with the Probate Court, not used as an out-of-court bank form. |
| PC-2407 | Decedent's estate inventory under C.G.S. section 45a-341. | Use the statewide form set, not a local Cheshire or Southington packet. |
| PC-237 | Return of claims and list of notified creditors under C.G.S. section 45a-361. | Part of the statewide creditor claims process. |
| PC-246 | Financial report for many decedent estates under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. | The court will tell you whether a financial report or fuller account is required. |
| PC-482 | Appointment of the probate judge as agent for service by a nonresident fiduciary. | Relevant when the fiduciary lives outside Connecticut. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely local path | Sunset support |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in Cheshire or Southington, start with this court for any estate filing required by C.G.S. section 45a-283 or C.G.S. section 45a-303. Joint or survivorship assets may pass outside administration, but the Connecticut estate tax return still must be filed within six months, and the later Probate Court fee is computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | Sunset helps identify accounts, beneficiary assets, debts and real estate details so the spouse can see what belongs in estate settlement and what may transfer outside the court process. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the parent lived in Cheshire or Southington and the estate qualifies, the affidavit in lieu procedure is filed with the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-273. If the adult child will serve while living outside Connecticut, the court may also need the nonresident fiduciary service form by function. | Sunset can organize the asset list, generate a probate packet using Connecticut forms, and connect the adult child with a Connecticut probate attorney if travel or signing requirements become difficult. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A solely owned home usually means a full estate in the Probate Court for the district where the child was domiciled at death, which is this court for Cheshire or Southington residents (C.G.S. sections 45a-283 and 45a-303). The fiduciary should ask the court what authority is needed before a sale and should expect inventory duties under C.G.S. section 45a-341. | Sunset helps build the estate settlement checklist, identify accounts tied to the child, prepare core forms, and find a probate attorney for real estate and court permission issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire-Southington Probate Court | Filing office for estates of people domiciled in Cheshire or Southington. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help, but not legal advice. | Town Hall, 84 South Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410. Phone (203) 271-6608. Fax (203) 271-3735. https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/cheshire-southington-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for the correct Probate Court at ctprobate.gov, useful when you are unsure which probate district applies under C.G.S. section 45a-2. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search for decedents' estates and trusts, filterable to PD18. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with earlier data incomplete. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Connecticut probate forms | Statewide numbered PC forms used by every Connecticut Probate Court. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/forms-list |
| Administration of Decedents' Estates user guide | Plain-English Connecticut Probate Court Administrator guide for decedent estate administration. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Connecticut probate fee calculators | Live calculators, including a decedents' estates calculator for the later Probate Court fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests | Information for requesting a disability accommodation from a Connecticut Probate Court, using form PC-2 with at least ten days' notice where possible. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Statewide legal aid intake for people with low income, covering both Cheshire and Southington. | 1-800-453-3320. https://slsct.org/ |
| CTLawHelp.org | Free Connecticut self-help legal library and legal help finder. | https://ctlawhelp.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Connecticut Probate Court guidance says a lawyer is not required but is often advisable, and estate matters can be complex. Counsel is especially useful if heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, a fiduciary lives outside Connecticut, tax filings are unclear, or a Probate Court decree may need to be appealed to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate financial accounts, insurance, investments and other assets before filing, so the estate settlement plan starts with a more complete picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into a Connecticut probate packet using the statewide forms for the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted Connecticut probate attorney who can handle court filings, real estate issues, disputes and tax questions.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand the next step, and decide when professional help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Cheshire or Southington?
File in the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in Cheshire or Southington at death. For a will, C.G.S. section 45a-283 points to the Probate Court for the district where the testator was domiciled at death. For an intestate estate, C.G.S. section 45a-303 points to the district where the deceased was domiciled at death.
Is the courthouse in Cheshire or Southington?
The courthouse is in Cheshire Town Hall at 84 South Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410. The same court serves both Cheshire and Southington under C.G.S. section 45a-2.
Can a self-represented person use eFiling for the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court?
The Connecticut Probate Courts use one statewide eFiling system powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys who appear in probate matters must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for everyone else, and a self-represented person may open an Individual account. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
Does the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court have local probate forms?
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Cheshire-Southington Probate Court uses the same numbered PC forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court, and the court does not publish forms of its own.
What probate fee does the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court charge when an estate is opened?
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. For a person who died on or after July 1, 2016, that statutory fee is graduated from $25 to a cap of $40,000, with a $150 minimum where a full estate is opened on a basis under $10,000, and any portion passing to a surviving spouse counted at half (C.G.S. section 45a-107). Fees are the same in all Connecticut probate districts (C.G.S. section 45a-105).
How do I look up a Cheshire-Southington Probate Court estate?
Use Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. Search decedents' estates and trusts by name and filter to PD18. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, and earlier data is incomplete. The tool shows case index data and fiduciary contact information, not filings or a docket.
Can I ask to participate by phone or video?
Connecticut Probate Courts may allow participation by electronic means under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. The court decides the request based on factors in the rule, and the rule names no platform. Ask the clerk of the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court what that court expects.
Do I have to travel to Cheshire for every step?
Not every estate requires every party to attend a hearing. Written waivers or the court's streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6 may allow a decree without everyone being present. If attendance is difficult, ask the clerk about the court's process for participation by electronic means under section 66.1.
What document proves that I have authority over the estate?
After appointment, the clerk issues a certificate of appointment as fiduciary. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, the certificate is sufficient evidence of authority and identity for one year from the date it is issued, in the absence of actual notice of revocation.
Is a small estate filed with this court?
If the decedent was domiciled in Cheshire or Southington and the estate qualifies for the affidavit in lieu procedure, the filing is made with the Cheshire-Southington Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-273. It is still a Probate Court filing and results in a court decree.
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.