Back to Connecticut
Madison-Guilford Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Information |
|---|---|
| Court | Madison-Guilford Probate Court, PD-34 |
| Courthouse address | 8 Meeting House Lane, Madison, CT 06443 |
| Mailing address | Same as the courthouse address |
| Phone | (203) 245-5661 |
| Fax | (203) 245-5653 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Filing cost | 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. |
| Local forms | Connecticut forms are statewide. The Madison-Guilford 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 Connecticut Probate Courts use a statewide eFiling system powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for self-represented filers, and the original will cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a. |
| Case lookup | Use the statewide Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD34. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage. |
| Remote participation | Remote appearance is a request decided by the court under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. The rule names no platform. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/madison-guilford-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms or contact the Madison-Guilford Probate Court, build a basic picture of what the person owned, what passed outside probate, and what debts or expenses remain. Connecticut estate settlement can require court forms, creditor steps, an estate tax return within six months, and a later probate fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107 even when some assets do not pass through probate.
Sunset helps families search for accounts and assets across 2,300 institutions, organize liabilities, and turn that information into a probate packet for the Madison-Guilford Probate Court. That asset work is often the difference between guessing at estate settlement and filing with a complete inventory under C.G.S. section 45a-341.
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 Madison-Guilford Probate Court serves Guilford and Madison (C.G.S. section 45a-2). The court sits at 8 Meeting House Lane in Madison, so a Guilford filer should plan for the Madison courthouse.
If the decedent was domiciled in Guilford or Madison and left a will, the named executor applies in this Probate Court district under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the decedent died intestate, the Madison-Guilford Probate Court has jurisdiction to grant letters of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-303. If a nonresident decedent owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 supplies the possible Connecticut probate districts.
If you are unsure which Probate Court serves a town, use the Connecticut Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the correct court. Use the Madison-Guilford Probate Court for a decedent domiciled in Guilford or Madison, because those towns make up PD-34 under C.G.S. section 45a-2 and resident venue is tied to domicile under C.G.S. section 45a-283 and C.G.S. section 45a-303.
- Choose the filing path. A full estate begins with PC-200, Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, for a Connecticut resident decedent in the probate district where the decedent was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283. A qualifying small estate uses the C.G.S. section 45a-273 affidavit in lieu procedure. A nonresident estate with Connecticut property may require the ancillary path under C.G.S. section 45a-287.
- Prepare the statewide forms and any required confidential information sheets. Connecticut probate forms are statewide, so use the PC forms from ctprobate.gov rather than looking for Madison-Guilford-only forms.
- File with the Madison-Guilford Probate Court at 8 Meeting House Lane, Madison, CT 06443, or through the statewide eFiling system when allowed. Attorneys register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, self-represented filing is optional, and the original will cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a.
- Do not bring an opening payment for a decedent's estate. No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. The Probate Court invoices the estate later under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
- Watch for notice and hearing instructions. The Probate Court may schedule a hearing, accept written waivers, or use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6.
- If travel is difficult, ask the clerk how to request participation by electronic means. Remote appearance is discretionary under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1, and the rule does not name a platform.
- After appointment, ask the clerk for certified copies of the certificate of appointment. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, the certificate of appointment is sufficient evidence of the fiduciary's authority and identity for one year from issuance.
- Administer the estate after appointment. File the inventory within the period set by C.G.S. section 45a-341, follow creditor notice and claims steps under C.G.S. sections 45a-354, 45a-356 and 45a-361, file the Connecticut estate tax return within six months, and complete the financial report or account required for closing.
- Close the estate when administration is complete. The court may require a financial report under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, status updates under section 30.21 if the estate remains open, and PC-213 under Rule 36.12 after distribution.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Madison-Guilford Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Madison-Guilford 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 a Connecticut resident decedent was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283. |
| PC-200CI | Confidential information filed with PC-200. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estate procedure. |
| PC-212CI | Confidential information filed with PC-212 under C.G.S. section 45a-273. |
| PC-201 | Ancillary probate petition for a nonresident decedent with Connecticut property under C.G.S. section 45a-287. |
| PC-2407 | Decedent's estate inventory filed 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-286 | Status Update/Decedent's Estate under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.21 when an estate remains open. |
| PC-213 | Affidavit of closing under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 36.12. |
Local nuance
Madison-Guilford Probate Court district-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Guilford files in Madison | The district serves Guilford and Madison under C.G.S. section 45a-2, but the courthouse is at 8 Meeting House Lane in Madison. Guilford is in the district, but the court does not sit in Guilford. |
| Madison Memorial Town Hall | The town's Probate Court page says Madison Memorial Town Hall was chosen as a prominent, historic, centrally located seat for the consolidated Madison-Guilford district. |
| Passports | The town's Probate Court page says passports are not processed by the Madison-Guilford Probate Court and directs passport questions to the U.S. Department of State. |
| Mixed caseload | The town's page says about 50 to 60 percent of the court's caseload is decedents' estates, with the rest covering conservatorships, guardianships, adoptions, name changes and civil commitments. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in Guilford or Madison, start with the Madison-Guilford Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283 or C.G.S. section 45a-303. Co-owned property may pass outside the probate estate, but the Connecticut estate tax return is still due within six months and the probate fee is later computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | Sunset helps identify which accounts and property appear to pass outside probate, which assets need court authority, and what belongs in the estate settlement packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the decedent lived in Guilford or Madison and the estate qualifies, the C.G.S. section 45a-273 affidavit in lieu procedure is filed with the Madison-Guilford Probate Court. If the child is appointed as a nonresident fiduciary in a full estate, the court may require the nonresident fiduciary paperwork used in Connecticut practice. | Sunset helps sort accounts, debts, and beneficiary designations before you decide whether the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estate path fits. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A solely owned Connecticut home usually points to full administration in the Madison-Guilford Probate Court if the child was domiciled in Guilford or Madison. File the opening petition, address appointment, and ask the court what authority is needed before a sale if the will does not already authorize it. | Sunset helps gather mortgage, tax, account and debt information so the executor or administrator can work with the court and any real estate professionals from a clearer asset list. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Madison-Guilford Probate Court | Filing office for a decedent domiciled in Guilford or Madison. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help, but not legal advice. | 8 Meeting House Lane, Madison, CT 06443. Phone (203) 245-5661. Fax (203) 245-5653. https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/madison-guilford-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for the correct Probate Court. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search of decedents' estates and trusts. Filter to PD34. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete earlier coverage. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Connecticut probate forms | Statewide PC form catalogue from the Office of the Probate Court Administrator. | 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 | Statewide calculators for the probate fee invoiced later under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests under the ADA | Accommodation procedure using Form PC-2, with at least ten days' notice requested where possible and emergency waiver available. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| New Haven Law Library | Public Connecticut Judicial Branch law library in the region. | New Haven Courthouse, 235 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510. Phone (203) 503-6828. Hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Legal aid intake and screening for people who cannot afford a lawyer. | 1-800-453-3320. https://slsct.org/ |
| CTLawHelp.org | Free Connecticut self-help legal library and legal help finder. | https://ctlawhelp.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Connecticut's Probate Court Administrator says a lawyer is not required but is often advisable, and ctprobate.gov says estate matters can be complex and the advice of a lawyer is strongly recommended. Counsel is especially useful in the Madison-Guilford Probate Court district if there is a contested will, real estate to sell, a tax issue, a blended family, a nonresident fiduciary, or a possible appeal to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate accounts, insurance, retirement assets, real estate clues, debts and recurring bills so the executor or administrator can start estate settlement with a fuller picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what you enter into an organized probate packet for the Madison-Guilford Probate Court, including the information needed for statewide Connecticut forms and next-step checklists.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a probate attorney familiar with Connecticut Probate Court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the probate path, and prepare for court without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate if the person lived in Guilford?
File with the Madison-Guilford Probate Court in Madison. Guilford and Madison are the two towns in PD-34 under C.G.S. section 45a-2. For a Connecticut resident with a will, venue follows the probate district where the person was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283. For an intestate estate, the same district rule appears in C.G.S. section 45a-303.
Is the courthouse in Guilford or Madison?
The courthouse is in Madison at 8 Meeting House Lane, Madison, CT 06443. The district serves Guilford and Madison under C.G.S. section 45a-2, but Guilford families use the Madison courthouse.
Can I e-file at the Madison-Guilford Probate Court?
The Connecticut Probate Courts use a statewide eFiling system powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for everyone else, and a self-represented party may open an Individual account. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
What does it cost to open an estate in the Madison-Guilford Probate Court?
No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. Connecticut bills the estate later under C.G.S. section 45a-107, using a statutory calculation that applies statewide under C.G.S. section 45a-105. 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 minimum of $150 when a full estate is opened on a basis under $10,000, and interest of 0.5 per cent per month can apply under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
Can I take part in a hearing remotely?
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 Madison-Guilford Probate Court what that court expects.
How do I look up a Madison-Guilford Probate Court estate?
Use Connecticut's statewide Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to the Madison-Guilford Probate Court district, PD34. The Case Lookup covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present. Earlier cases may appear, but the database is incomplete before that date.
Does the Madison-Guilford Probate Court have its own forms?
No. Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Madison-Guilford 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.
Do I have to travel to Madison if I live out of state?
Not always. Some uncontested filings can proceed by written waivers, and the court may use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. If a hearing is scheduled, remote appearance is a request under section 66.1, not an automatic right. If you are appointed, ask about the certificate of appointment under C.G.S. section 45a-200 and any paperwork needed for a nonresident fiduciary.
When do I need the Connecticut estate tax return?
The Connecticut estate tax return is due within six months of death and is filed with the Probate Court for a resident decedent. The probate fee is calculated later under C.G.S. section 45a-107, whether or not every asset passes through probate.
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.