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Hamden-Bethany Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Information |
|---|---|
| Court | Hamden-Bethany Probate Court, PD-37 |
| Courthouse address | Government Center, 2750 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published for this court. Use the courthouse address unless the clerk instructs otherwise. |
| Phone | (203) 287-7082 |
| Fax | (203) 287-7087 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published on the court page. |
| 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. |
| Form status | Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The court's page does not publish forms of its own. |
| eFiling status | Connecticut uses statewide eFiling powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for others, and the original will cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a. |
| Case lookup | Use Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD-37. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage. |
| Remote participation | Remote participation is discretionary. Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1 lets the court allow participation by electronic means on request or on its own motion. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/hamden-bethany-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything at the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court, identify the assets, debts, beneficiary designations, jointly owned property, and Connecticut property connected to the person who died. Estate settlement in Connecticut depends on what passes through the Probate Court, what passes outside it, and what still must be reported for the Connecticut estate tax return due within six months.
Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they choose forms, estimate the statutory fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107, or decide whether they need a local probate attorney. That asset picture is especially useful before asking the clerk procedural questions, because the clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help but cannot give legal advice.
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 Hamden-Bethany Probate Court serves Bethany and Hamden (C.G.S. section 45a-2). The court is in Hamden, at the Government Center, so a Bethany resident's family still uses this court when the venue statutes point to the decedent's Connecticut domicile.
If the decedent left a will and was domiciled in Bethany or Hamden at death, the executor applies in this Probate Court within thirty days under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the decedent died intestate, the Probate Court for the district of domicile has jurisdiction to grant letters of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-303. If the decedent was not a Connecticut resident but owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 controls the possible Connecticut filing districts.
If the decedent lived somewhere other than Bethany or Hamden, use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator to find the correct Probate Court by town.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the correct filing court. Use the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court only if the decedent was domiciled in Bethany or Hamden, or if a nonresident property rule points here. Connecticut venue for a will is tied to domicile under C.G.S. section 45a-283, and intestate administration is tied to C.G.S. section 45a-303.
- Choose the Connecticut form path. A full estate generally starts with PC-200, filed in the court for the district where the decedent was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the estate qualifies for the small estates procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273, use PC-212 instead. If the decedent was a nonresident with Connecticut property and a will, ancillary filing may use PC-201 under C.G.S. section 45a-287.
- File with the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court. File at Government Center, 2750 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518, or use Connecticut's statewide eFiling system if you are an eligible registered filer 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.
- Do not attach 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 Hamden-Bethany 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 schedule a hearing, accept written waivers, or use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. The Hamden-Bethany Probate Court's page does not publish hearing days, so call the clerk if timing matters.
- Ask early about remote participation. 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 Hamden-Bethany Probate Court what that court expects.
- Receive the fiduciary authority document. 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 Hamden-Bethany 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 the estate and meet the statewide clocks. After appointment, the court places the newspaper notice to creditors within 14 days under C.G.S. section 45a-354. File the inventory, usually PC-2407 for a decedent's estate, within two months after qualification unless the court extends the time for cause under C.G.S. section 45a-341. Creditors have the 150-day period described in C.G.S. section 45a-356, and the fiduciary files the return of claims, usually PC-237, within 60 days after that period ends under C.G.S. section 45a-361.
- File taxes, account, distribute, and close. The Connecticut estate tax return is due within six months and is filed with the Probate Court for a Bethany or Hamden decedent. A final financial report such as PC-246 is governed by Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. If the court directs an affidavit of closing, PC-213 is filed under Rules of Procedure, section 36.12 after distribution.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Hamden-Bethany 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 | Petition to open a full administration or probate a will in the district where the decedent was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283. |
| PC-200CI | Confidential information filed with PC-200. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in lieu for the small estates procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273, when the statutory personal-property and real-property conditions are met. |
| PC-212A and PC-212CI | Related small estates procedure forms under C.G.S. section 45a-273. |
| PC-201 and PC-201CI | Ancillary probate of a will for a nonresident decedent with Connecticut property under C.G.S. section 45a-287. |
| PC-2407 | Inventory for a decedent's estate, tied to the inventory deadline in C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| PC-237 | Return of claims and list of notified creditors, tied to 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 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
| Situation | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in Bethany or Hamden, use the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court. Jointly owned assets may pass outside the Probate Court, but the Connecticut estate tax return is still due within six months, and the later statutory fee is computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | Sunset helps identify jointly held accounts, beneficiary assets, debts, and any solely owned property before the spouse chooses forms or calls the Hamden clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | For a Bethany or Hamden decedent, the child may be dealing with this court even from outside Connecticut. The small estate path is the affidavit in lieu procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273, and a nonresident fiduciary may need PC-482 for service. | Sunset helps collect institution information, generate the right statewide form packet, and flag when an attorney should review nonresident fiduciary issues. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the child was domiciled in Bethany or Hamden and owned a home solely, the filing belongs in the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court. Solely owned Connecticut real property prevents use of the small estates procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273, so a full estate is usually needed before sale authority and closing steps. | Sunset helps locate mortgage, tax, bank, and title-related information, then helps the parent assemble a probate packet and connect with a local attorney if a sale is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Hamden-Bethany Probate Court | Filing office for a decedent who was domiciled in Bethany or Hamden. The clerk can supply PC forms and answer procedural questions, but cannot give legal advice. | Government Center, 2750 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518. Phone: (203) 287-7082. Fax: (203) 287-7087. Website: https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/hamden-bethany-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for Connecticut Probate Courts. Use it if the decedent did not live in Bethany or Hamden. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search for decedents' estates and trusts, filterable to PD-37. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Connecticut probate forms | Statewide numbered PC form catalogue and a Trusts and Estates subset. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/forms-list and https://www.ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-forms |
| Administration of Decedents' Estates user guide | The Probate Court Administrator's 2026 plain-English guide to settling a Connecticut estate. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Connecticut probate fee calculators | Calculators for estimating the later statutory fee that is invoiced under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests | Statewide ADA accommodation information for Connecticut Probate Courts, including form PC-2 and the ten-day advance request guidance. | https://www.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. https://slsct.org/ |
| CTLawHelp.org | Free Connecticut self-help legal library and legal help finder. | https://ctlawhelp.org/en/get-legal-help |
| New Haven Law Library | Nearby Connecticut Judicial Branch public law library for legal research. Check current hours before travelling. | 235 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510. Phone: (203) 503-6828. https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate bank, investment, retirement, insurance, and other accounts before filing, so the estate settlement plan is based on a fuller asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to help assemble Connecticut probate forms for the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court, including the right statewide PC forms for the path you are taking.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a home sale, a dispute, a nonresident fiduciary, or uncertainty about the will, Sunset can help you connect with a Connecticut probate attorney familiar with local Probate Court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, and the goal is to make the next court step clearer before you contact the clerk or counsel.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Bethany or Hamden?
File with the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in Bethany or Hamden. Connecticut's will venue rule is C.G.S. section 45a-283, and intestate administration is governed by C.G.S. section 45a-303. The courthouse is at Government Center, 2750 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518.
Does a Bethany resident's estate get filed in Hamden?
Yes, if the decedent was domiciled in Bethany. The Hamden-Bethany Probate Court serves both Bethany and Hamden as PD-37 under C.G.S. section 45a-2, and the courthouse is in Hamden.
Can I use eFiling for the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court?
Connecticut has statewide eFiling powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys who appear in a probate matter 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.
Does the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court have its own forms?
The Hamden-Bethany Probate Court uses Connecticut's statewide PC forms. The court's own page does not publish a local packet, checklist, or separate form. PC-200 is the usual full-estate petition tied to C.G.S. section 45a-283, and PC-212 is the affidavit in lieu form for the small estates procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273.
What fee is paid when a decedent's estate is opened in Hamden-Bethany?
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. Connecticut's fee schedule is the same in all probate districts under C.G.S. section 45a-105, and the Probate Court Administrator publishes a calculator at ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators.
Can I appear remotely for a Hamden-Bethany Probate Court hearing?
Maybe, but it is the court's decision. Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1 allows participation by electronic means on request or on the court's own motion, after the court weighs the rule's factors. The Hamden-Bethany court page does not name a platform.
How do I look up a Hamden-Bethany Probate Court estate case?
Use Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD-37. The tool covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage, and it shows case index information rather than filed documents.
Will I have to travel to the Hamden courthouse?
Not always. The court may use 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. Call the clerk at (203) 287-7082 before making travel plans.
When will the Hamden-Bethany Probate Court schedule a hearing?
The court's page does not publish hearing days or a filing-to-hearing window. After a petition is filed, watch for the court's notice, waiver instructions, or streamline notice under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6.
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.