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Fairfield Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Fairfield Probate Court, PD-49 |
| Courthouse | Sullivan Independence Hall, 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824-6684 |
| Mailing | Use the courthouse address. No separate mailing address is published. |
| Telephone | (203) 256-3041 |
| Fax | (203) 256-3044 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No lunch closure, filing cutoff or seasonal schedule is published. |
| 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 Fairfield Probate Court uses the same numbered forms as every Connecticut Probate Court and does not publish forms of its own. |
| eFiling | Connecticut uses a statewide TurboCourt eFiling system. 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 | Use the statewide Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD49. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to the present. |
| Remote participation | Electronic participation may be allowed on request under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1, but it is the court's decision and the rule names no platform. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/fairfield-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing in Fairfield, list the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, possible creditors, and any real property. Connecticut estate settlement depends on what was owned in the decedent's name, what passed outside probate, and what must be listed on the Connecticut estate tax return due within six months.
Sunset helps families start with asset discovery instead of guesswork. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions, organizes the estate settlement picture, and helps turn that information into the Fairfield Probate Court forms and attorney handoff when needed.
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. The Fairfield Probate Court serves the town of Fairfield only (C.G.S. section 45a-2). If the decedent was domiciled in Fairfield at death, the estate is filed with this court for a will matter under C.G.S. section 45a-283 or an intestate matter under C.G.S. section 45a-303. For a nonresident who owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 supplies additional venue choices. A decision of the Probate Court may be appealed to the Superior Court, generally within thirty days under C.G.S. section 45a-186.
Do not confuse the Fairfield Probate Court, PD-49, with the Northern Fairfield County Probate Court, PD-45, which serves Bethel, Newtown, Ridgefield and Redding. Fairfield County is not a Connecticut probate unit. Use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator if you are checking a town near Fairfield before filing.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Fairfield is the correct probate district under C.G.S. section 45a-2. For a decedent domiciled in Fairfield, file in the Fairfield Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283 for a will or C.G.S. section 45a-303 for an intestate estate.
- Gather the will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, family information, and any real property information. If there is an original will, it must be delivered on paper because the original will cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a.
- Prepare the statewide PC forms. A full estate generally starts with PC-200 under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small-estate procedure applies, use the statewide affidavit in lieu forms instead.
- File with the Fairfield Probate Court at Sullivan Independence Hall, 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824-6684, by paper delivery or by the statewide TurboCourt eFiling system if you are eligible and registered under section 22.1.
- Do not attach an upfront payment to open 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 Fairfield 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. Connecticut estates may proceed with a noticed hearing, with written waivers, or through the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6.
- If a hearing, conference or deposition is set and travel is difficult, ask the clerk what the Fairfield Probate Court expects for a request to participate by electronic means under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1.
- After appointment, use the certificate of appointment issued by the clerk as proof of authority. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, the certificate is sufficient evidence of the fiduciary's authority and identity for one year from issuance.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, handling creditor notice under C.G.S. section 45a-354, observing the 150-day claims period under C.G.S. section 45a-356, filing PC-2407 inventory within the C.G.S. section 45a-341 deadline, filing PC-237 return of claims under C.G.S. section 45a-361, and filing the Connecticut estate tax return with the Probate Court within six months.
- Close the estate when administration is complete. Most estates use PC-246 financial report under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. If the court directs an affidavit of closing, PC-213 is filed within 30 days after distribution under C.G.S. section 45a-186 and Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Fairfield Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Fairfield 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 | Opening petition for administration or probate of a will, used with the Fairfield venue rule in C.G.S. section 45a-283. |
| PC-200CI | Confidential information filed with PC-200. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in lieu form for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small-estate procedure. |
| PC-2407 | Decedent's estate inventory filed under C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| PC-237 | Return of claims and list of notified creditors 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. |
| CT-706 NT | Connecticut estate tax return filed with the Probate Court within six months when the nontaxable estate form applies. |
| CT-706/709 | Connecticut estate and gift tax return filed with Revenue Services, with a copy to the Probate Court, within six months when the taxable estate form applies. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Fairfield path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | File in the Fairfield Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in Fairfield 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 the documents needed for estate settlement before the Fairfield filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Mail paper documents to Sullivan Independence Hall, 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824-6684. The original will cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a. If the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small-estate procedure applies, the statewide affidavit in lieu forms are used at this court. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, prepare the probate packet, and flag what must be mailed on paper instead of uploaded. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property usually means full administration through PC-200 under C.G.S. section 45a-283. The clerk's certificate of appointment is the authority document a buyer's attorney or title company may ask for, 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 find accounts, create the opening packet, and connect the family with a Fairfield-area probate attorney when a home sale is part of estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Probate Court | Filing office for an estate of a person who lived in Fairfield. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help but cannot give legal advice. | Sullivan Independence Hall, 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824-6684; (203) 256-3041; fax (203) 256-3044; https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/fairfield-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town tool for confirming the correct Probate Court, especially if you are comparing Fairfield with nearby districts. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search for decedents' estates and trusts, filterable to PD49, with coverage from January 5, 2011 to the present. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Connecticut probate forms | Statewide numbered PC form catalogue, with free fillable forms and a Trusts and Estates subset. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/forms-list |
| Administration of Decedents' Estates user guide | Probate Court Administrator's 2026 plain-English guide to Connecticut estate administration. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Connecticut probate fee calculators | Calculators for estimating the probate fee later invoiced under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests | Disability accommodation requests for Connecticut Probate Courts, using form PC-2 with ten days' notice when possible. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Legal aid intake for people with low income. | 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's own Probate Court materials say a lawyer is not required but is often advisable because estate matters can be complex. Counsel is especially useful in Fairfield when a home must be sold, family members disagree, creditor issues appear, a fiduciary lives outside Connecticut, or the Connecticut estate tax return due within six months affects the probate fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset helps families locate bank, brokerage, retirement, insurance, and other accounts so the Fairfield estate settlement starts with a clearer asset picture.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the information you gather into a Fairfield-ready probate packet using Connecticut's statewide PC forms, including the forms commonly used to open and administer a decedent's estate.
Find a local probate attorney
When the estate involves real property, disputes, tax questions, or an out-of-state fiduciary, Sunset can connect the family with a probate attorney who understands Connecticut Probate Court practice.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The goal is to make estate settlement easier, reduce missed assets, and help you move from uncertainty to the next filing step.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate if the person lived in Fairfield?
File with the Fairfield Probate Court, PD-49, if the decedent was domiciled in the town of Fairfield. The court serves Fairfield only under C.G.S. section 45a-2, and resident venue is tied to domicile under C.G.S. section 45a-283 for a will and C.G.S. section 45a-303 for an intestate estate.
Is the Fairfield Probate Court the same as the Northern Fairfield County Probate Court?
No. The Fairfield Probate Court serves only the town of Fairfield. The Northern Fairfield County Probate Court is a different Probate Court, PD-45, serving Bethel, Newtown, Ridgefield and Redding. Fairfield County is not a probate unit in Connecticut.
Can I use eFiling for a Fairfield probate matter?
Connecticut uses statewide TurboCourt eFiling. Attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, and registration is optional for everyone else. A self-represented party may open an Individual account, but the original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
Can I look up a Fairfield estate online?
Yes. Use the Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD49. It covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete coverage before that date.
Does Fairfield publish its own probate forms?
The Fairfield Probate Court uses Connecticut's statewide PC forms. It does not publish forms of its own. Common forms include PC-200 under C.G.S. section 45a-283, PC-2407 inventory under C.G.S. section 45a-341, and PC-237 return of claims under C.G.S. section 45a-361.
What do I pay when opening a Fairfield estate?
No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. The Probate Court later invoices the estate under C.G.S. section 45a-107. For deaths on or after July 1, 2016, the graduated fee runs from $25 to a cap of $40,000, with a $150 minimum when a full estate is opened on a basis under $10,000, all under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
Do I have to travel to Fairfield for a probate hearing?
Not always. Connecticut estates may proceed by written waivers or by the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6, when the court allows it. If a hearing is set, Connecticut Probate Courts may allow participation by electronic means under section 66.1, but that is a request decided by the court.
What proof of authority will a Fairfield executor or administrator receive?
When the Probate Court appoints a fiduciary, the clerk issues a certificate of appointment. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, that certificate is sufficient evidence of authority and identity for one year, so banks or transfer agents may ask for a recently issued copy.
Does the Connecticut estate tax return go to the Fairfield Probate Court?
For a decedent domiciled in Fairfield, the Connecticut estate tax return is filed with the Probate Court within six months. CT-706 NT is filed with the Probate Court when that nontaxable form applies. CT-706/709 is filed with Revenue Services, with a copy to the Probate Court, when that taxable form applies.
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.