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East Hartford Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | East Hartford Probate Court, PD-05 |
| Courthouse address | Town Hall, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published. Use Town Hall, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108. |
| Phone | (860) 291-7278 |
| Fax | (860) 291-7211 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee | 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 forms are statewide. The East Hartford Probate Court uses the same numbered PC forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court. |
| 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. |
| Case search | Use the free statewide Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD05. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage. |
| Remote appearance | The court may allow participation by electronic means under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. It is a request the court decides, not a right. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/east-hartford-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in East Hartford, make a working list of the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, beneficiary designations and jointly owned property. Connecticut estate settlement is driven by what the person owned, and the statutory probate fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107 is billed later from the value of the estate.
Sunset can help identify assets across 2,300 institutions before you choose a form path or ask the clerk procedural questions. That early asset search can prevent an East Hartford estate settlement from starting on the wrong assumption about what is in the estate.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Connecticut probate is handled by a separate statewide system of 54 Probate Courts, one for each district under C.G.S. section 45a-2, not by the Superior Court and not by any county. The East Hartford Probate Court serves East Hartford only.
If the decedent was domiciled in East Hartford at death and left a will, the executor applies to this Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the decedent died intestate, the East Hartford Probate Court has jurisdiction under C.G.S. section 45a-303. For a nonresident decedent with Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 lists the possible districts.
Do not confuse this court with the Hartford Probate Court, which serves Hartford, or the West Hartford Probate Court, which serves West Hartford. Hartford, East Hartford and West Hartford are separate towns. If you are not sure which town controls, use the Connecticut Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator.
A Probate Court decree may be appealed to the Superior Court, generally within thirty days under C.G.S. section 45a-186.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, taxes and likely fiduciary before filing. Connecticut requires an estate tax return within six months of death, and the Probate Court fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107 is calculated from the estate value and billed later.
- Get the statewide Connecticut forms. The East Hartford Probate Court uses the same PC forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court, and the clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help but cannot give legal advice.
- Confirm that East Hartford is the right court. The East Hartford Probate Court serves East Hartford only under C.G.S. section 45a-2. Hartford and West Hartford have separate Probate Courts.
- File the opening petition. For an East Hartford decedent, PC-200 is filed in the Probate Court for the district where the person was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283. The courthouse is Town Hall, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108, and no separate mailing address is published.
- Do not bring payment for a decedent's-estate opening. No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened, and the East Hartford Probate Court invoices the statutory fee later under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
- Send any original will on paper. The Connecticut Probate Courts use a statewide eFiling system, and attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, but the original will can never be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
- Watch for notice and hearing instructions. Notice is sent when the estate is opened and again when the final financial report or account is filed. Many estates proceed on written waivers or through the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6.
- After appointment, get proof of authority. The clerk issues a certificate of appointment under C.G.S. section 45a-200, and that certificate is sufficient evidence of the fiduciary's authority and identity for one year from the date it is issued.
- Administer the estate on the statewide clocks. The decedent's estate inventory is filed within two months after qualification unless the court extends the time under C.G.S. section 45a-341, the court places newspaper notice for claims under C.G.S. section 45a-354, and the return of claims follows under C.G.S. section 45a-361.
- Close with the court's final documents. The final financial report or account is filed under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, the court issues any required decree, and the fiduciary follows the court's direction for distribution and closing.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the East Hartford Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The East Hartford 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 in an East Hartford estate |
|---|---|
| PC-200 | Opening petition for administration or probate of will, filed where the decedent was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283. |
| PC-200CI | Confidential information form filed with PC-200 for a decedent domiciled in East Hartford under C.G.S. section 45a-283. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in lieu of probate of will or administration for the small estate procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273. |
| PC-2407 | Decedent's estate inventory filed on the inventory clock under C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| PC-237 | Return of claims and list of notified claimants filed under C.G.S. section 45a-361. |
| PC-246 | Financial report for a decedent's estate under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. |
| PC-213 | Affidavit of closing used when the court directs it, under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12. |
| PC-482 | Appointment of Probate Judge as agent for service by a nonresident fiduciary. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely East Hartford path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in East Hartford, start with the East Hartford Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. A jointly held home may pass outside the estate, but the Connecticut estate tax return still goes to the Probate Court within six months, and the probate fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107 is computed on the estate value. | Sunset helps find accounts, identify co-owned and beneficiary-designated assets, and prepare an estate settlement plan before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the small estate procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273 fits, the affidavit is still filed with the Probate Court, not taken straight to a bank. Papers can be mailed to Town Hall, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108, and the original will must travel on paper because it cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a. | Sunset helps organize asset information, generate the probate packet, and flag when a nonresident fiduciary may need PC-482. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of solely owned real property usually means full administration through PC-200 in the court where the decedent was domiciled 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. | Sunset helps identify financial accounts, prepare forms, and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a home sale or contested decree is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| East Hartford Probate Court | Filing office for East Hartford only. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help but not legal advice. | Town Hall, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108; (860) 291-7278; fax (860) 291-7211; https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/east-hartford-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for the correct Probate Court, useful for distinguishing East Hartford, Hartford and West Hartford. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search of decedents' estates and trusts. Filter to PD05. Coverage begins January 5, 2011. | 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 guide to Connecticut estate administration. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Connecticut probate fee calculators | Statewide calculators for the probate fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests, ADA | Form PC-2 and Probate Court accommodation information. At least ten days' notice is requested where possible. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| Connecticut Judicial Branch law libraries | Public law libraries with librarians who can help locate statutes, rules and forms. They do not give legal advice. | https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/ |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Legal aid intake and screening for people who cannot afford a lawyer. | 1-800-453-3320; https://slsct.org/ |
| CTLawHelp.org | Connecticut self-help legal library and legal help finder. | https://ctlawhelp.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Connecticut's Probate Court Administrator says estate matters can be complex and that legal advice is often advisable. Counsel makes particular sense if family members disagree, the will may be challenged, an East Hartford home must be sold, a fiduciary lives out of state, tax filings are uncertain, or an appeal to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186 is being considered. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance policies and other assets so the family can understand what may need to be reported before the East Hartford estate settlement begins.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into organized Connecticut probate forms and a filing checklist for the East Hartford Probate Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Connecticut probate attorney who can advise on filings, real estate, fiduciary duties and disputes.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, prepare for court and understand next steps without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in East Hartford?
File with the East Hartford Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in East Hartford. PC-200 is filed in the Probate Court for the district where the person was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283, and East Hartford is the only town served by this court under C.G.S. section 45a-2.
Is the East Hartford Probate Court the same as the Hartford Probate Court?
No. East Hartford, Hartford and West Hartford are separate towns with separate Probate Courts. East Hartford is PD-05, Hartford is PD-01, and West Hartford is PD-02. Use the Connecticut Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator if the town is uncertain.
What are the East Hartford Probate Court's hours and address?
The court is at Town Hall, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108. Its published hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone number is (860) 291-7278.
What does it cost to open a decedent's estate in East Hartford?
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 East Hartford 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.
Can I use eFiling for the East Hartford Probate Court?
The Connecticut Probate Courts run one statewide eFiling system, powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys who appear in a probate matter must register for it under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for everyone else, and a self-represented party may open an Individual account and file at the East Hartford Probate Court that way. Once you have eFiling access to a matter, section 22.3 governs electronic filing and electronic service. The original will can never be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
Can I take part in an East Hartford Probate Court hearing by electronic means?
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 East Hartford Probate Court what that court expects.
Do I have to travel to East Hartford for every step?
Not necessarily. Papers can be mailed to the court's street address, the original will must arrive on paper under section 7.1a, and many matters are handled on written waivers or through the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. If a hearing is set, a request to participate by electronic means is decided under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1.
How do I look up an East Hartford probate case online?
Use Connecticut's free statewide Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD05. It covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage. The tool shows case index information and fiduciary contact information, not the full court file.
Are there separate East Hartford probate forms?
No. Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The East Hartford Probate Court uses the same numbered PC forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court, and those forms are published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator at ctprobate.gov.
What document proves I can act for the estate?
When the Probate Court appoints you, the court's clerk issues a certificate of appointment 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.
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.