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Housatonic Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Housatonic Probate Court, PD-44 |
| Courthouse address | 47 Bridge Street, New Milford, CT 06776 |
| Mailing | Use the courthouse address. No separate mailing address is published. |
| Phone | (860) 355-6029 |
| Fax | (860) 355-6024 |
| Hours | Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| 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 only. The court does not publish forms of its own. |
| E-filing | Statewide TurboCourt eFiling. Attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1; registration is optional for everyone else. The original will must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a. |
| Case lookup | Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. Search decedents' estates and trusts and filter to PD44. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present. |
| Remote participation | Electronic participation is a request the court decides under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. The rule names no platform. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/housatonic-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file at the Housatonic Probate Court, list what the decedent owned, what had a beneficiary or survivorship owner, what debts remain, and whether any real property must be sold. The right estate settlement path depends on those facts, and the Connecticut estate tax return must be filed with the Probate Court within six months even when no full estate is opened.
Sunset can help identify accounts across 2,300 institutions, organize assets and liabilities, and turn that information into the probate forms and attorney handoff a family needs before contacting the New Milford courthouse.
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 Housatonic Probate Court serves Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman (C.G.S. section 45a-2). The courthouse is in New Milford, but the court name is based on the Housatonic River, not on any one of those towns.
If the decedent was domiciled in Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford or Sherman at death and left a will, the application for probate of the will is filed in this Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the decedent died intestate, the Probate Court for the district where the decedent was domiciled has jurisdiction to grant letters of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-303. For a nonresident decedent who owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 gives alternative districts and the court that first assumes jurisdiction keeps it.
Use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator if you are checking any Connecticut town outside Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman. 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
- Choose the correct opening paper. For a full estate, use PC-200, Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, and file in the court for the district where the decedent was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the estate may qualify for the small estate procedure, use PC-212 under C.G.S. section 45a-273 instead. If the decedent was not a Connecticut resident but owned Connecticut property, review the ancillary path under C.G.S. section 45a-287.
- File with the Housatonic Probate Court. File by mail or in person at 47 Bridge Street, New Milford, CT 06776, or use the statewide eFiling system if you are eligible. Attorneys who appear must register for eFiling, 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.
- Expect the estate fee to be billed later. 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 Housatonic 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; C.G.S. section 45a-2). 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 estate inventory is a separate fiduciary filing under C.G.S. section 45a-341. 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 set a hearing, accept written waivers, or use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. The court's page does not publish hearing days or a filing-to-hearing window.
- Ask early if someone needs to participate electronically. 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 Housatonic Probate Court what that court expects.
- Get proof of authority after appointment. 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 Housatonic 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 file required follow-up papers. The fiduciary files the PC-2407 inventory within two months after qualification unless the court extends the time for cause to not more than four months (C.G.S. section 45a-341). The court places newspaper notice to creditors within fourteen days after the first fiduciary is appointed (C.G.S. section 45a-354). Creditors have a 150-day claims period under C.G.S. section 45a-356, and the fiduciary files PC-237, Return of Claims and List of Notified Creditors, within 60 days after that period ends under C.G.S. section 45a-361.
- File taxes, report, distribute and close. The Connecticut estate tax return is filed with the Probate Court within six months of death. For a decedent domiciled in Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford or Sherman, that means the Housatonic Probate Court. The fiduciary then files the final financial report or account, often PC-246 under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, distributes under the court's order, and files any affidavit of closing the court directs under Rules of Procedure, section 36.12.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Housatonic Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Housatonic 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 | Opens a full decedent's estate when the decedent was domiciled in the district under C.G.S. section 45a-283. |
| PC-200CI | Confidential information filed with PC-200. |
| PC-201 | Ancillary probate for a nonresident decedent with Connecticut property under C.G.S. section 45a-287. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration for the small estate procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273. |
| PC-2407 | Inventory for decedents' estates, tied to the inventory duty under C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| PC-237 | Return of Claims and List of Notified Creditors after the claims period under C.G.S. section 45a-361. |
| PC-246 | Financial Report/Decedent's Estate under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. |
| PC-482 | Used by a fiduciary living outside Connecticut to appoint the probate judge as agent for service of process. If the decedent, not just the fiduciary, was a nonresident with Connecticut property, check C.G.S. section 45a-287 for venue. |
Local nuance
Housatonic Probate Court district-specific considerations
The Housatonic Probate Court is named for the Housatonic River rather than for Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford or Sherman. Because none of the five towns shares the court's name, do not assume a town hall or county office is the right place. The courthouse for all five towns is at 47 Bridge Street in New Milford.
The hours also vary by weekday: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call (860) 355-6029 before relying on a Friday afternoon trip.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford or Sherman, the probate filing belongs at the Housatonic Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. A co-owned home may pass outside probate by survivorship, but the Connecticut estate tax return still must be 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 tax items before the spouse decides whether a full estate is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Papers can be mailed to 47 Bridge Street, New Milford, CT 06776. The small estate procedure is a Probate Court filing under C.G.S. section 45a-273, not an out-of-court bank shortcut. The original will cannot be eFiled and must arrive on paper under section 7.1a. If a Massachusetts-based adult child is appointed fiduciary, the court may require PC-482 for service of process; if the decedent was a nonresident with Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 is the separate venue rule. | Sunset organizes the asset list, flags whether real property changes the path, and prepares the family for mail filing or attorney review. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real property usually points to full administration through PC-200 in the Housatonic Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. After appointment, the clerk issues a certificate of appointment that proves fiduciary authority for one year under C.G.S. section 45a-200. If anyone contests the sale or appointment, the matter stays in this Probate Court, with appeal to the Superior Court generally within thirty days under C.G.S. section 45a-186. | Sunset helps gather deeds, mortgage information, account details and attorney-ready summaries for estate settlement when a home sale is part of the work. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic Probate Court | Filing office for estates of people domiciled in Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford or Sherman. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help, but cannot give legal advice. | 47 Bridge Street, New Milford, CT 06776; (860) 355-6029; fax (860) 355-6024; https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/housatonic-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town locator for Connecticut Probate Courts. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search for decedents' estates and trusts, filterable to PD44, with coverage from January 5, 2011 to the present. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Connecticut probate forms | Statewide numbered PC form catalogue, including forms used in estate settlement. | 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 | Calculators for estimating the fee later billed under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests | Disability accommodation requests use form PC-2. Ten days' notice is requested when possible, with emergency requests allowed. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Legal intake line for people with low income. | 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 help is often advisable, even though a lawyer is not required in every estate. Counsel is especially useful when a Housatonic Probate Court estate involves a home sale, unclear title, family disagreement, a nonresident fiduciary, creditor issues, tax questions, or a fiduciary who is unsure which PC forms and notices apply. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank, brokerage, retirement, insurance and other assets so the executor or administrator can see what belongs in the estate, what passes outside probate, and what must be reported for Connecticut estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet for the Housatonic Probate Court, including the facts needed for statewide PC forms and attorney review.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real property, a dispute, a nonresident fiduciary or a question the clerk cannot answer, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Connecticut probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand next steps, and decide when to file directly with the Probate Court or bring in counsel.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford or Sherman?
File with the Housatonic Probate Court at 47 Bridge Street, New Milford, CT 06776. For a Connecticut-domiciled decedent with a will, venue is the Probate Court for the district where the decedent was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283. For an intestate estate, the same domicile rule applies under C.G.S. section 45a-303. The Housatonic Probate Court serves Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman under C.G.S. section 45a-2.
Can I e-file at the Housatonic Probate Court?
The Connecticut Probate Courts use statewide TurboCourt eFiling. Attorneys who appear in a probate matter must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1; registration is optional for everyone else. A self-represented filer may use an Individual account when permitted by the system, but the original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
What are the Housatonic Probate Court hours?
The court lists Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Friday hours of 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The court's page does not publish a lunch closure or filing cutoff, so call (860) 355-6029 before a time-sensitive trip.
How long will it take to get a hearing at the Housatonic Probate Court?
The court's page does not publish hearing days or a filing-to-hearing window. Connecticut procedure may involve a hearing, written waivers, or the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6, depending on the filing and whether anyone asks to be heard.
Can I appear remotely for a Housatonic Probate Court hearing?
Remote appearance is not automatic. Connecticut Probate Courts may allow participation by electronic means under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1, but the court decides the request after considering the proceeding, available technology and fairness to the participants. Ask the clerk what the Housatonic Probate Court expects.
Can I look up a Housatonic Probate Court estate online?
Yes. Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup lets you search decedents' estates and trusts and filter to PD44. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present; earlier cases may appear, but the online index is incomplete before that date.
Does the Housatonic Probate Court have local probate forms?
The court uses statewide Connecticut PC forms from ctprobate.gov. It does not publish forms of its own. Common forms include PC-200 for a full estate under C.G.S. section 45a-283, PC-212 for the small estate procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273, PC-2407 for the inventory under C.G.S. section 45a-341, and PC-246 for the financial report under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19.
What do I pay when I open a decedent's estate?
No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. The Housatonic Probate Court invoices a statutory probate fee later under C.G.S. section 45a-107. For deaths on or after July 1, 2016, that fee is graduated 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 interest of 0.5 per cent per month can apply to unpaid or late-return fees under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
Do I have to travel to New Milford for every step?
Not always. Papers may be mailed, eligible filings may use eFiling under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, and some matters may proceed through waivers or streamline notice under section 8.6. If a hearing is needed, electronic participation may be requested under section 66.1, but the court decides whether to allow it.
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.