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Greater Windsor Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Greater Windsor Probate Court, PD-04 |
| Courthouse address | Town Hall, 1540 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT 06074-2786 |
| Mailing | Use the courthouse address unless the clerk directs otherwise. No mailing box is published for this court. |
| Phone | (860) 644-2511, extension 2371. This is the South Windsor Town Hall switchboard, so ask for the Probate Court or extension 2371. |
| Fax | (860) 648-5047 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The court's page does not publish a lunch closure or filing cutoff. |
| Cost to open a decedent's estate | 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 Greater Windsor Probate Court uses the numbered PC forms published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator and does not publish forms of its own. |
| Online filing | The statewide eFiling system is powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register, and registration is optional for everyone else under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a. |
| Online lookup | Connecticut Case Lookup is available at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. Filter to PD-04 or Greater Windsor Probate Court. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage. |
| Remote participation | A party, witness or attorney may ask to participate by electronic means, but the court decides the request under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. The rule names no platform. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/greater-windsor-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything at the Greater Windsor Probate Court, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, jointly held property, beneficiary designations, and any Connecticut real estate. That first asset map determines whether the estate settlement goes through full administration, an affidavit in lieu under C.G.S. section 45a-273, or another statewide Connecticut path.
Sunset can help families search across 2,300 institutions for accounts and benefits, organize what was found, and turn that information into a practical estate settlement plan before you contact the South Windsor clerk's office.
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 county government. The Greater Windsor Probate Court serves East Windsor, South Windsor and Windsor (C.G.S. section 45a-2). If the decedent was domiciled in one of those towns at death, that is where the estate is filed for a will under C.G.S. section 45a-283 or for an intestate estate under C.G.S. section 45a-303.
The courthouse is in South Windsor, at South Windsor Town Hall. That does not mean every Windsor-named town is covered here. Windsor Locks is served by a different court, the Tobacco Valley Probate Court, PD-03. If you are unsure which court matches the decedent's town, use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator before filing.
For a nonresident who owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 supplies the possible Connecticut filing districts. A decision of the Probate Court may be appealed to the Superior Court, generally within thirty days under C.G.S. section 45a-186.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the correct court by town. File at the Greater Windsor Probate Court only if the decedent was domiciled in East Windsor, South Windsor or Windsor, or if the nonresident-property venue rules point here (C.G.S. section 45a-283, C.G.S. section 45a-287, C.G.S. section 45a-303).
- Choose the correct statewide filing path. A full estate usually starts with PC-200 for administration or probate of a will, and a will should be presented within thirty days when C.G.S. section 45a-283 applies. A qualifying affidavit in lieu uses the C.G.S. section 45a-273 procedure.
- File with the South Windsor office, by mail, in person, or through the statewide eFiling system if you are eligible to use it. Attorneys must register for eFiling and other users may register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. The original will cannot be eFiled and must be delivered on paper under section 7.1a.
- Do not bring an opening payment for 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 Greater Windsor 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 or waiver instructions from the court. Connecticut Probate Courts may use notice, waivers, or the streamline notice procedure in Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6, depending on the filing and whether anyone requests a hearing.
- If a hearing is scheduled and travel is difficult, ask the clerk what the court expects. Connecticut Probate Courts may allow participation by electronic means, but it is a request the court decides under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1.
- After appointment, obtain certified copies of the certificate of appointment from the clerk. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, that certificate is sufficient evidence of the fiduciary's authority and identity for one year from issuance.
- Administer the estate under the statewide deadlines. The fiduciary files the decedent's estate inventory within two months after qualification unless the court extends the time for cause, up to four months (C.G.S. section 45a-341). The court places newspaper notice to creditors within 14 days after the first fiduciary is appointed (C.G.S. section 45a-354), creditors generally have a 150-day presentation period under C.G.S. section 45a-356, and the return of claims follows under C.G.S. section 45a-361.
- File the Connecticut estate tax return with the Probate Court within six months of death. For a decedent domiciled in East Windsor, South Windsor or Windsor, CT-706 NT goes to the Greater Windsor Probate Court when the estate is at or below the 2026 threshold, and CT-706/709 goes to the Department of Revenue Services with a copy to the Probate Court when required.
- Close the estate after debts, taxes, distributions and the court's required financial report or account are complete. Many estates use PC-246 under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, and longer matters may require status updates under section 30.21.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Greater Windsor Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Greater Windsor 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.
| Need | Common statewide form | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Open a full estate | PC-200, Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, tied to the resident filing rule in C.G.S. section 45a-283 | File for East Windsor, South Windsor or Windsor estates at the South Windsor Town Hall office. |
| Use the affidavit in lieu process | PC-212, used under C.G.S. section 45a-273 | This is still a Probate Court filing. It is not an out-of-court bank form. |
| File confidential information | PC-200CI or PC-212CI, depending on the petition | Use the matching confidential-information form for the filing path. |
| Inventory estate assets | PC-2407, Inventory/Decedents' Estates, tied to C.G.S. section 45a-341 | The inventory deadline is statewide, not a Greater Windsor local rule. |
| Report claims | PC-237, Return of Claims and List of Notified Creditors, tied to C.G.S. section 45a-361 | Use after the statewide creditor-claim process has run. |
| Ask about disability accommodation | PC-2 | Use the statewide Probate Court accommodation process and contact this court's clerk for local arrangements. |
Local nuance
Greater Windsor Probate Court district-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Three Windsor-named towns are here, one is not | East Windsor, South Windsor and Windsor are served by this court under C.G.S. section 45a-2. Windsor Locks is served by the Tobacco Valley Probate Court, PD-03. | Use ctprobate.gov/court-locator if the decedent lived in any Windsor-named town. |
| The courthouse is in South Windsor | The court name is Greater Windsor Probate Court, but filings go to South Windsor Town Hall at 1540 Sullivan Avenue. | Do not look for a separate Windsor courthouse for this estate settlement. |
| The phone uses an extension | This is the only Connecticut Probate Court contact number in the court list that is published with an extension. | Call (860) 644-2511 and ask for extension 2371 or for the Probate Court. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in East Windsor, South Windsor or Windsor, start with the Greater Windsor Probate Court. Joint and survivorship assets may still matter for the Connecticut estate tax return due within six months and the later C.G.S. section 45a-107 fee calculation. | Sunset helps identify co-owned accounts, beneficiary assets and estate-only assets so the spouse can tell what belongs in the Probate Court filing and what supports the estate settlement outside court. |
| out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | First confirm the decedent lived in East Windsor, South Windsor or Windsor, not Windsor Locks. If the C.G.S. section 45a-273 affidavit in lieu path applies, file with this court and ask the clerk about any paperwork expected from a nonresident fiduciary. | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare the probate packet, and connect the child with a Connecticut attorney if distance or fiduciary paperwork becomes difficult. |
| parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home that must be sold usually means full administration through this court if the child was domiciled in East Windsor, South Windsor or Windsor. The fiduciary should expect appointment, a certificate of appointment under C.G.S. section 45a-200, an inventory under C.G.S. section 45a-341, tax-return filing within six months, and court direction before distribution. | Sunset helps organize asset discovery, title questions to raise with counsel, and the documents needed for a clearer estate settlement plan. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Windsor Probate Court | Filing office for decedents domiciled in East Windsor, South Windsor or Windsor. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural information, but cannot give legal advice. | Town Hall, 1540 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT 06074-2786. Phone: (860) 644-2511, extension 2371. Fax: (860) 648-5047. Website: ctprobate.gov/courts/greater-windsor-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for all Connecticut towns, useful when comparing East Windsor, South Windsor, Windsor and Windsor Locks. | ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search for decedents' estates and trusts, filterable to PD-04. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage. | ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Connecticut probate forms | Statewide numbered PC form catalogue and Trusts and Estates subset. | ctprobate.gov/forms-list and ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-forms |
| Administration of Decedents' Estates user guide | The Probate Court Administrator's 2026 guide to Connecticut estate administration. | ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Connecticut probate fee calculators | Calculator for estimating the statutory C.G.S. section 45a-107 decedent's-estate fee that the court bills later. | ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests | Statewide disability accommodation process using form PC-2. The statewide guidance asks for requests at least ten days before the proceeding when possible. | ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Legal aid intake line for people with low income in Connecticut. | 1-800-453-3320. slsct.org |
| CTLawHelp.org | Free Connecticut self-help legal library and legal help finder. | ctlawhelp.org |
| Hartford Law Library | Nearby Connecticut Judicial Branch public law library at the Hartford Courthouse, with legal information guides. Check current hours before travelling. | 95 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106. Phone: (860) 548-2866. Posted weekday hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. jud.ct.gov/lawlib |
When to hire an attorney
Connecticut probate guidance says a lawyer is not required but is often advisable, and the Probate Court Administrator's trusts and estates page says estate matters can be complex. Counsel is especially useful when a will is contested, a house must be sold, heirs disagree, a fiduciary lives out of state, or the estate tax return due within six months raises questions. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, retirement benefits and other assets that can shape the probate filing, the Connecticut estate tax return, and the overall estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's answers into an organized packet for the Greater Windsor Probate Court, including the right statewide Connecticut form path and a checklist of documents to gather.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a Connecticut probate attorney familiar with Probate Court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand next steps, and move from asset discovery to filing without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Windsor?
File with the Greater Windsor Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in Windsor, East Windsor or South Windsor at death. Connecticut uses probate districts under C.G.S. section 45a-2, and resident estates are filed based on domicile under C.G.S. section 45a-283 for a will or C.G.S. section 45a-303 for an intestate estate.
Does the Greater Windsor Probate Court cover Windsor Locks?
No. Windsor Locks is served by the Tobacco Valley Probate Court, PD-03. The Greater Windsor Probate Court serves East Windsor, South Windsor and Windsor under C.G.S. section 45a-2. Use ctprobate.gov/court-locator if the town name is close or confusing.
Can I file online with the Greater Windsor Probate Court?
The statewide Connecticut Probate Court eFiling system is powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register, and registration is optional for everyone else under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
What does it cost to open a decedent's estate in Greater Windsor?
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. The same rule applies in every Connecticut probate district under C.G.S. section 45a-105, and the court system publishes a calculator at ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators.
Does the Greater Windsor Probate Court have its own forms?
The court does not publish forms of its own. Connecticut probate forms are statewide PC forms published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator. Common estate forms include PC-200 for a C.G.S. section 45a-283 resident estate filing and PC-212 for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 affidavit in lieu procedure.
Can I attend a Greater Windsor Probate Court hearing by phone or video?
You may ask the court about participation by electronic means. Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1 lets the court allow a party, witness or attorney to participate that way on request or on the court's own motion, but it is the court's decision and the rule names no platform.
How do I look up a Greater Windsor probate case?
Use Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD-04 or Greater Windsor Probate Court. It covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage, and it shows case index information and fiduciary contact information rather than filed documents.
Do I have to travel to South Windsor for every probate step?
Not always. Some matters can proceed by waivers or the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6, and remote participation can be requested under section 66.1. Ask the clerk what the Greater Windsor Probate Court expects for your specific hearing or filing.
Who issues my proof of authority after appointment?
The clerk of the Greater Windsor Probate Court issues the certificate of appointment after the court appoints a fiduciary. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, that certificate is sufficient evidence of authority and identity for one year, 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.