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Litchfield Hills Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Litchfield Hills Probate Court, PD-24 |
| Main office | 74 West Street, Litchfield, CT 06759 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 505, Litchfield, CT 06759 |
| Main phone | (860) 567-8065 |
| Main fax | (860) 567-2538 |
| Main hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern time |
| Second office | 100 Pease Street, P.O. Box 849, Canaan, CT 06018, in the town of North Canaan. Published telephone: (860) 824-7012. Published fax: (860) 824-7428. Published hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call before travelling because the court's own web page lists the Litchfield office only. |
| Kent appointments | The town of Kent lists the Probate Court with hours by appointment and the main court phone, (860) 567-8065. Call the Litchfield office before travelling to Kent. |
| 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 | Connecticut probate forms are statewide PC forms. The Litchfield Hills Probate Court uses the same forms as every Connecticut Probate Court and does not publish forms of its own. |
| Electronic filing | The statewide eFiling system is powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register, registration is optional for everyone else, and the original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper. Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1 and section 7.1a. |
| Case search | Connecticut Case Lookup is free at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. Search decedents' estates and trusts and filter to PD24. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete older case index information. |
| Electronic participation | A party, witness or attorney may ask to take part by electronic means, but section 66.1 of the Probate Court Rules of Procedure makes that a court decision, not a right. Ask the clerk what the court expects. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/litchfield-hills-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Start estate settlement by identifying what the person owned, what passed outside probate, and what debts or taxes may still need attention. In Connecticut, that asset picture matters before the first filing because the probate fee is invoiced later under C.G.S. section 45a-107 and the estate tax return is due to the Probate Court within six months of death.
For the Litchfield Hills Probate Court district, planning also saves travel. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they mail papers to Litchfield, use the North Canaan office, or call about a Kent appointment.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Connecticut probate is handled by a separate statewide system of Probate Courts, one for each probate district, not by the Superior Court and not by any county. The Litchfield Hills Probate Court serves Canaan, Cornwall, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Thomaston and Warren (C.G.S. section 45a-2). Canaan and North Canaan are separate towns, and both belong in this district.
If the decedent was domiciled in one of those towns at death and left a will, the will is presented in the Probate Court for that district (C.G.S. section 45a-283). If the decedent died intestate, letters of administration are granted by the Probate Court for the district where the person was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-303). For a nonresident who owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 gives alternative Connecticut probate districts, and the court that first assumes jurisdiction keeps it.
The statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator is the safest town-by-town check. Use it if the decedent lived outside the twelve towns listed above or if you are unsure which Connecticut Probate Court district applies.
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts and likely tax filings before choosing a path. Connecticut requires an estate tax return to be filed with the Probate Court within six months of death, and the probate fee is later computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
- Get the statewide forms. The Litchfield Hills Probate Court uses Connecticut PC forms published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator, including PC-200 for administration or probate of a will under C.G.S. section 45a-283.
- File with the Litchfield Hills Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in Canaan, Cornwall, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Thomaston or Warren. Mail papers to P.O. Box 505, Litchfield, CT 06759, bring them to 74 West Street in Litchfield, or call before using the North Canaan office at 100 Pease Street.
- Do not attach a counter payment for opening 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 Litchfield Hills 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.
- Use eFiling only within the statewide rules. Attorneys must register for eFiling and self-represented parties may register if they choose (Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1). The original will, any codicil and certain other original documents cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper (section 7.1a).
- Watch for notice and hearing instructions from the court. Many Connecticut estate matters proceed on written waivers or through the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6, but the court may also schedule a hearing.
- If the court appoints you, ask the clerk for certified copies of the certificate of appointment. 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.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory required by C.G.S. section 45a-341, handle creditor notice under C.G.S. section 45a-354 and claims timing under C.G.S. section 45a-356, file the return of claims under C.G.S. section 45a-361 when required, submit the Connecticut estate tax return within six months, and then file the final financial report or account and any closing affidavit the court directs.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Litchfield Hills Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Litchfield Hills 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 in a Litchfield Hills estate |
|---|---|
| PC-200 | Petition to open administration or probate a will in the district where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). |
| PC-200CI | Confidential information filed with PC-200. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will or Administration for the small estates procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273. |
| PC-2407 | Inventory for decedents' estates, 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. |
| PC-213 | Affidavit of Closing under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12. |
| CT-706 NT | Connecticut estate tax return filed with the Probate Court within six months when that form applies. |
If an original will exists, send or bring the original on paper. It cannot be eFiled under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in one of the twelve towns, any estate filing belongs at the Litchfield Hills Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. A co-owned home may pass outside probate, but Connecticut still requires an estate tax return to 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 accounts, beneficiary assets and jointly held property so the spouse can understand whether a court estate is needed and what still must be reported for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | For a small estate handled under C.G.S. section 45a-273, mail papers to P.O. Box 505 in Litchfield or call before using the North Canaan office. If there is an original will, it cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a. Electronic filing is optional for a self-represented filer under section 22.1. | Sunset organizes the asset list, generates a probate packet, and helps an adult child in New York or Massachusetts avoid unnecessary travel where papers can be mailed or a local attorney can appear. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of solely owned real estate usually means full administration through PC-200 in the Probate Court district where the child was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). After appointment, the clerk's certificate of appointment is the authority document, and it is effective for one year under C.G.S. section 45a-200. If a dispute leads to an appeal, the appeal is to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. | Sunset helps assemble the probate packet, track the real estate and accounts, and connect the parent with a vetted probate attorney for the sale and court filings. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Litchfield Hills Probate Court | Filing office for estates of people domiciled in Canaan, Cornwall, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Thomaston or Warren. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help, but cannot give legal advice. | 74 West Street, P.O. Box 505, Litchfield, CT 06759. (860) 567-8065. Fax (860) 567-2538. Second office: 100 Pease Street, P.O. Box 849, Canaan, CT 06018, (860) 824-7012. https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/litchfield-hills-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for the Probate Court that serves a Connecticut town, useful when the decedent did not live in one of the twelve towns on this page. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide case lookup for decedents' estates and trusts, filterable to PD24. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete older case index information. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Connecticut probate forms | Free statewide form catalogue and Trusts and Estates form subset used by every Connecticut Probate Court. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/forms-list |
| Administration of Decedents' Estates user guide | The Probate Court Administrator's plain-language guide to Connecticut estate settlement, updated for 2026. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Connecticut probate fee calculators | Statewide calculators that estimate Probate Court fees, including the decedents' estates calculator under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests | A person with a disability may ask a Connecticut Probate Court for an accommodation using PC-2. The Probate Court Administrator asks for at least ten days' notice where possible, with emergency flexibility. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Statewide legal aid intake for people with low income. It can screen for free legal aid and referrals, but its public subject list should not be read as a promise of decedents' estate representation. | 1-800-453-3320. https://slsct.org/ |
| CTLawHelp.org | General free self-help legal library from Connecticut nonprofit legal aid organizations, with a legal help finder. | https://ctlawhelp.org/ |
| Torrington Law Library | Public Judicial Branch law library near the district, with librarians and research guides, including probate appeal material for matters that reach the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. Check current hours before travelling. | 50 Field Street, Torrington, CT 06790. (860) 626-2696. https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/ |
When to hire an attorney
The Probate Court Administrator tells families that estate matters can be complex and that legal assistance is strongly recommended, even though a lawyer is not required in every case. Counsel is especially useful when a home must be sold, a will is contested, heirs disagree, an out-of-state fiduciary is involved, or the estate tax return and probate fee questions are not straightforward. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate bank, brokerage, retirement, insurance and other accounts so the estate settlement starts with a clearer picture of what exists.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized set of probate documents and next steps tailored to the Litchfield Hills Probate Court filing path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney who understands Connecticut Probate Court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the probate path, and move the estate settlement forward without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Which towns does the Litchfield Hills Probate Court serve?
The Litchfield Hills Probate Court serves Canaan, Cornwall, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Thomaston and Warren (C.G.S. section 45a-2). Canaan and North Canaan are two different towns, and both are in the district.
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Kent, Sharon or Thomaston?
File with the Litchfield Hills Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in one of the twelve towns at death. For a will, the venue rule is C.G.S. section 45a-283. For an intestate estate, the court's authority to grant letters of administration is under C.G.S. section 45a-303.
Is there more than one Litchfield Hills Probate Court office?
Yes. Use the Litchfield office at 74 West Street, P.O. Box 505, Litchfield, CT 06759 by default. The court also has a published second office at 100 Pease Street, P.O. Box 849, Canaan, CT 06018, in the town of North Canaan, with telephone (860) 824-7012. The town of Kent lists the court by appointment on the main number. Call before travelling to North Canaan or Kent.
What does it cost to open an estate at the Litchfield Hills 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. The statewide fee calculator is at ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators.
Are there local Litchfield Hills probate forms?
No separate district form set is published. Connecticut probate forms are statewide PC forms, and the Litchfield Hills Probate Court uses the same forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court.
Can I file online with the Litchfield Hills Probate Court?
The Connecticut Probate Courts use a statewide eFiling system powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register, and registration is optional for everyone else (Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1). The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper (section 7.1a).
Can I take part in a Litchfield Hills Probate Court hearing by phone or video?
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 Litchfield Hills Probate Court what that court expects.
Do I have to travel to Litchfield for every step?
Often, no. Papers can be mailed to P.O. Box 505 in Litchfield, the court has a published second office in North Canaan, and the town of Kent lists the court by appointment. Many Connecticut estates are also handled through written waivers or the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6.
Can I look up a Litchfield Hills estate online?
Yes. Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup lets you search decedents' estates and trusts and filter to PD24. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, and older case index information is incomplete. The tool shows case index information and fiduciary contact information, not filings.
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.