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Hartford Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Hartford Probate Court, PD-01 |
| Courthouse address | 250 Constitution Plaza, 3rd Floor, Hartford, CT 06103 |
| Mailing address | Same as the courthouse address. No post office box is published for this court. |
| Phone | (860) 757-9150 |
| Fax | (860) 724-1503 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call before making a trip. |
| 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. |
| Forms | Statewide PC forms. The Hartford Probate Court uses the same numbered forms as other Connecticut Probate Courts and does not publish forms of its own. |
| E-filing | Statewide eFiling through TurboCourt. Attorneys who appear must register, and registration is optional for other persons (Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1). The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper (section 7.1a). |
| Case search | Connecticut's statewide Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup can be filtered to PD01, Hartford Probate Court. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present for decedents' estates and trusts. |
| Remote appearance | A party, witness or attorney may ask to participate by electronic means. The decision belongs to the court under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/hartford-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing at the Hartford Probate Court, identify what the person owned, what passed outside probate, and what debts or expenses remain. In Connecticut, that information affects both the route and the later statutory probate fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107. It also affects whether the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure is available, because that procedure is limited to estates with no solely owned Connecticut real estate and solely owned personal property of $40,000 or less, a figure set by P.A. 07-32 and kept in current law.
The Connecticut estate tax return is due at the Probate Court within six months of death whether or not a full estate is opened, and the court uses it to compute the later fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families begin estate settlement with a fuller asset list before they choose forms, prepare the return, or respond to the court's questions.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Hartford Probate Court serves Hartford, and only Hartford, as probate district PD-01 (C.G.S. section 45a-2). It sits in the same city it serves, at 250 Constitution Plaza, 3rd Floor, Hartford, CT 06103. West Hartford Probate Court, East Hartford Probate Court, and the Hartford Regional Children's Probate Court are different courts.
If the person who died was domiciled in Hartford and left a will, the person named as executor applies to the Probate Court for the district where the person was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). If there is no will, the Probate Court in the district where the person was domiciled at death 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 lists alternative districts and gives continuing jurisdiction to the court that first assumes it. A Probate Court decision may be appealed to the Superior Court, generally within thirty days after the court sends the decree (C.G.S. section 45a-186).
If you are unsure whether Hartford, West Hartford, or East Hartford is the correct town, use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator before filing.
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts, tax issues, and whether the person owned Connecticut real estate. The C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure uses a $40,000 personal-property ceiling, set by P.A. 07-32 and kept in current law, and it is not available if the person owned solely owned Connecticut real estate.
- Choose the statewide form set. A full estate starts with PC-200 Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, filed in the district where a Connecticut resident was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283), with PC-200CI. The C.G.S. section 45a-273 affidavit in lieu route uses PC-212, with related confidential or distribution forms when required.
- File with the Hartford Probate Court if the person was domiciled in Hartford at death. The address is 250 Constitution Plaza, 3rd Floor, Hartford, CT 06103. Filing may be on paper at the court, by mail to the same address, or through the statewide eFiling system if the filer is eligible under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper (section 7.1a).
- Do not bring an upfront court charge for opening the 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 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.
- Watch for court notice. The court may set a hearing, may act after written waivers if it finds a hearing unnecessary, or may use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6, which gives parties the right to request a hearing by a stated date.
- After the first fiduciary is appointed, the Probate Court places the newspaper notice to creditors within fourteen days (C.G.S. section 45a-354). Creditors generally have 150 days to present claims (C.G.S. section 45a-356), and the fiduciary later files PC-237 return of claims within sixty days after that period ends (C.G.S. section 45a-361).
- Ask early if a remote request is needed. 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 Hartford Probate Court what that court expects.
- Use the clerk's 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 Hartford 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 estate deadlines. If the person owned Connecticut real estate, ask the Hartford Probate Court clerk for PC-251 and record it in the town land records within the user guide's two-month period. File PC-2407 inventory within two months after the fiduciary qualifies, extendable by the court for cause to not more than four months (C.G.S. section 45a-341). File the Connecticut estate tax return with the Probate Court within six months of death.
- Close after claims, taxes, distributions, and court approval. Most estates use PC-246 Financial Report/Decedent's Estate under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. If the court directs an affidavit of closing, file PC-213 within 30 days after completing distribution under section 36.12.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Hartford Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The 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. The court may still require a particular document in paper form under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| PC-200 and PC-200CI | Opening petition and confidential information for a full estate, filed in the probate district where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). |
| PC-212, PC-212A and PC-212CI | Affidavit in lieu forms for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure, including the $40,000 personal-property ceiling set by P.A. 07-32 and kept in current law. |
| PC-2407 | Inventory for decedents' estates, filed within two months after fiduciary qualification unless extended as allowed by C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| PC-237 | Return of claims and list of notified creditors, filed after the creditor period under C.G.S. sections 45a-354, 45a-356 and 45a-361. |
| PC-246 | Financial report for many decedents' estates under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. |
| PC-286 | Status update if an estate remains open past the first anniversary of appointment, under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.21. |
| PC-184 | Request and order for waiver of fees for a petitioner who cannot pay, under C.G.S. section 45a-111. |
| PC-482 | Appointment of the probate judge as agent for service of process when the fiduciary lives outside Connecticut. Nonresident-decedent venue is a different issue under C.G.S. section 45a-287. |
Two useful court-issued or court-supplied items are not in the public catalogue. PC-251, the land-records notice after appointment, is obtained from the court and recorded with the town clerk where Connecticut real estate is located. The fiduciary's certificate of appointment is issued by the clerk after appointment, and its authority period is one year under C.G.S. section 45a-200.
Recent updates
The Hartford Probate Court page does not list a local relocation or special operating notice for this court. Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Hartford path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | If the Hartford home was owned with survivorship rights, the home may pass outside the probate estate, but the Connecticut estate tax return is still due at the Probate Court within six months, and the later fee is computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107. Solely owned accounts may still require an executor or administrator. | Sunset helps find accounts, policies, and liabilities before the return and estate settlement plan are prepared. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If a Massachusetts adult child is handling a Hartford parent's estate and the parent had no solely owned Connecticut real estate, PC-212 may fit if solely owned personal property is $40,000 or less, the threshold set by P.A. 07-32 and kept in current C.G.S. section 45a-273. A Connecticut estate tax return is still due within six months. If full administration is needed and the fiduciary lives outside Connecticut, PC-482 appoints the probate judge as agent for service of process. Nonresident-decedent venue is addressed separately in C.G.S. section 45a-287. | Sunset helps assemble the packet from out of state and search for accounts the family may not know about. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Solely owned Connecticut real estate rules out the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure, so the case usually starts with PC-200 at the Hartford Probate Court (C.G.S. section 45a-283). Ask the clerk for PC-251 for the land records, file PC-2407 inventory under C.G.S. section 45a-341, and expect to seek court authority for a sale unless the will authorizes it. The certificate of appointment lasts one year under C.G.S. section 45a-200. | Sunset helps organize the assets and debts needed for the inventory, sale planning, and a vetted local attorney if the sale or tax work needs one. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it helps with | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Probate Courts court locator | Town-by-town lookup for the correct Probate Court, useful for separating Hartford from West Hartford and East Hartford. | ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Probate Courts Case Lookup | Free statewide case index for decedents' estates and trusts, filterable to PD01, Hartford Probate Court. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present. | ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Probate Court User Guide: Administration of Decedents' Estates | The Probate Court Administrator's 2026 user guide for Connecticut estate administration, including the ten-step outline and the estate tax return due within six months. | ctprobate.gov, Resource Library, User Guides |
| Statewide PC forms | Free Connecticut probate forms, including PC-200 for a full estate and PC-212 for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure. | ctprobate.gov/forms-list and ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-forms |
| Fees and expenses calculators | Statewide fee page and decedents' estate calculator for the later invoice computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court Rules of Procedure | Statewide rules, including filing-fee section 6.1, streamline notice section 8.6, eFiling section 22.1, and remote participation section 66.1. | ctprobate.gov/rules-procedure |
| Assistance for individuals with disabilities | Statewide ADA information and PC-2 accommodation form. Ask for the chief clerk of the Hartford Probate Court and give at least ten days' notice when possible. | ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| Connecticut Judicial Branch law libraries | Law librarians answer research questions and can point to probate statutes, rules and forms; check current locations and hours before visiting. | jud.ct.gov/lawlib |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Legal aid intake for people who cannot afford a lawyer, with online application and hotline screening. | slsct.org/get-help, 1-800-453-3320 |
| Hartford Probate Court | Procedural questions, paper forms, and court-supplied items such as PC-251. The clerk can provide limited procedural assistance but cannot give legal advice. | 250 Constitution Plaza, 3rd Floor, Hartford, CT 06103, (860) 757-9150 |
When to hire an attorney
Connecticut's Probate Court guidance says estate matters can be complex and that legal advice is strongly recommended; the user guide says a lawyer is often advisable for tax returns, substantial or unusual assets, and disputes. Counsel is especially important for a contested hearing where evidence rules matter, a home sale, a disputed will, a Connecticut taxable estate, or an appeal to the Superior Court within the C.G.S. section 45a-186 deadline. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for bank, brokerage, retirement, insurance and other accounts so families can begin estate settlement with a stronger asset list before filing at the Hartford Probate Court.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for Connecticut's statewide PC forms, including the Hartford filing address, the probate district, and the documents that must stay on paper.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Hartford estate involves a dispute, real estate sale, tax return, or appeal issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families use Sunset at no cost to understand the estate settlement path, find assets, prepare for the court process, and decide when attorney help makes sense.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Hartford, Connecticut?
File at the Hartford Probate Court, PD-01, 250 Constitution Plaza, 3rd Floor, Hartford, CT 06103, if the person was domiciled in Hartford at death. A will is presented in the district where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283), and an intestate estate is handled by the Probate Court for that district (C.G.S. section 45a-303). Use ctprobate.gov/court-locator if the town might be West Hartford or East Hartford instead.
Is the Hartford Probate Court the same as West Hartford or East Hartford Probate Court?
No. Hartford Probate Court is PD-01 and serves Hartford only (C.G.S. section 45a-2). West Hartford Probate Court and East Hartford Probate Court are separate Probate Courts. The Hartford Regional Children's Probate Court is also separate and is not one of the 54 decedents' estate Probate Courts.
What does it cost to open a decedent's estate at the Hartford Probate Court?
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 deaths on or after July 1, 2016, the fee is graduated from $25 to a cap of $40,000 under C.G.S. section 45a-107, 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. The fee is the same in all 54 probate districts (C.G.S. section 45a-105), and interest of 0.5 per cent per month may run after the court's invoice or after a late Connecticut estate tax return under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
Can I start probate electronically in Hartford?
Connecticut uses one statewide eFiling system powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys who appear in a probate matter must register, while registration is optional for other persons (Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1). A self-represented person may use an Individual account if eligible, but the original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the Probate Court on paper (section 7.1a).
Do I have to go to a hearing at the Hartford Probate Court?
Not every estate requires a courtroom appearance. The court may set a hearing, may issue a decree without a formal hearing if everyone entitled to notice files written waivers and the court finds a hearing unnecessary, or may use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. Hartford Probate Court does not publish a hearing calendar, so follow the court notice you receive.
Can I take part in a Hartford Probate Court hearing by phone or video?
A party, witness or attorney may ask to participate by electronic means. Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1 lets the court allow participation on request or on its own motion after weighing the nature of the proceeding, available technology, and whether remote participation would permit full examination of witnesses. It is a court decision, not an automatic right, and the rule names no platform.
How do I look up a probate case in Hartford?
Use Connecticut's statewide Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD01, Hartford Probate Court. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, and earlier cases may be incomplete. The tool shows case index information and fiduciary contact information, not the full court file.
Does the Hartford Probate Court have its own forms?
The Hartford Probate Court uses Connecticut's statewide PC forms. It does not publish forms of its own. Start with PC-200 for a full estate under C.G.S. section 45a-283, or PC-212 for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure, and remember that a document required in paper form cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a.
What paperwork proves I am the executor in Connecticut, and how long is it good for?
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 issuance unless there is actual notice of revocation. Ask the Hartford Probate Court clerk how many certified copies to request.
I live out of state. Do I have to travel to Hartford to settle my parent's estate?
Much of the process can be handled by mail, by eFiling under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, or through waivers and streamline notice under section 8.6, but the original will must reach the Probate Court on paper under section 7.1a. If a hearing is set and travel is difficult, a party, witness or attorney may ask for participation by electronic means under section 66.1. A fiduciary who lives outside Connecticut may also need PC-482; nonresident-decedent venue is separate and is addressed in C.G.S. section 45a-287.
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.