Back to Connecticut
Shelton Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Shelton Probate Court, PD-42 |
| Street address | 40 White Street, Shelton, CT 06484 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 127, Shelton, CT 06484 |
| Telephone | (203) 924-8462 |
| Fax | (203) 924-8943 |
| Public hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., eastern time |
| Decedent estate 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. |
| Court forms | Connecticut PC forms are statewide. The Shelton Probate Court does not publish forms of its own. |
| Online filing | The statewide eFiling system is powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for everyone else. |
| Online case lookup | Connecticut Case Lookup covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with a PD42 filter. |
| Remote requests | The court may allow participation by electronic means on request under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. Ask the clerk what the Shelton Probate Court expects. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/shelton-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Shelton, list the assets, debts, beneficiary designations, jointly held property, and any real estate. Connecticut estate settlement depends on what passes through the Probate Court and what still must be reported for the estate tax return within six months.
Sunset can help organize the estate settlement picture before a petition is prepared, including asset discovery across 2,300 institutions, so you know what accounts, liabilities, and documents belong in the Shelton Probate Court packet.
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 Shelton Probate Court serves the town of Shelton (C.G.S. section 45a-2). If the decedent was domiciled in Shelton at death, that is where the estate is filed (C.G.S. section 45a-283, C.G.S. section 45a-303). A decision of the Probate Court may be appealed to the Superior Court, generally within thirty days (C.G.S. section 45a-186).
The court is in the same town it serves: Shelton. If the decedent lived in Derby, Ansonia, Trumbull, Monroe, or another nearby town, use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator to find the correct Probate Court. For a nonresident who owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 gives the possible districts.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct filing path. For a full estate, prepare PC-200, Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, for the court where the decedent was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). If the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure may apply, use PC-212 instead.
- File with the Shelton Probate Court. Use the courthouse at 40 White Street, Shelton, CT 06484, or mail papers to P.O. Box 127, Shelton, CT 06484. The Connecticut Probate Courts also use statewide eFiling powered by TurboCourt, with attorney registration required under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, but the original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
- Plan for the Connecticut cost model. 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 Connecticut estate tax return is filed with the Probate Court within six months, whether or not a full estate is opened.
- Watch for notice and hearing instructions. The court may send a hearing notice, accept waivers, or use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. The Shelton Probate Court does not list standing hearing days or standard wait times on its court page.
- Ask early if someone needs to participate by electronic means. Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1 lets the court permit electronic participation on request or on its own motion, but it is the court's decision and the rule names no platform.
- After appointment, get proof of authority from the clerk. The clerk issues a certificate of appointment, and C.G.S. section 45a-200 makes that certificate sufficient evidence of the fiduciary's authority and identity for one year from issuance.
- Administer the estate under the court's deadlines. File the PC-2407 inventory under C.G.S. section 45a-341, follow the creditor notice process under C.G.S. section 45a-354, file PC-237 return of claims under C.G.S. section 45a-361, and use PC-246 for the financial report when appropriate under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19.
- Close the estate after the court authorizes distribution. If the court directs it, file PC-213 under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12. If a party is aggrieved by a decree in a decedent's-estate matter, the appeal route is to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Shelton Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Shelton 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/Administration or Probate of Will, used to open a full decedent's estate in the proper district under C.G.S. section 45a-283. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration, used for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure. |
| PC-2407 | Inventory/Decedents' Estates, filed under C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| PC-237 | Return of Claims and List of Notified Creditors, filed under C.G.S. section 45a-361. |
| PC-246 | Financial Report/Decedent's Estate, the common closing report under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. |
| PC-213 | Affidavit of Closing, filed when the court directs it under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12. |
| PC-482 | Appointment of Probate Judge as Agent for Service by Non-Resident Fiduciary, used when the fiduciary lives outside Connecticut. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Shelton path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in Shelton, start with the Shelton Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. A jointly held home may pass outside probate, but the Connecticut estate tax return is still 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, co-owned assets, beneficiary designations, debts, and the documents needed for estate settlement before the Shelton packet is filed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Papers may be mailed to P.O. Box 127, Shelton, CT 06484. The original will must still travel on paper under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a. If the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure applies, PC-212 is the starting form. A fiduciary living outside Connecticut may need PC-482. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, generate the right form packet, and connect the family with Connecticut counsel if distance makes filing harder. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of solely owned real estate points to full administration through PC-200 under C.G.S. section 45a-283. The certificate of appointment under C.G.S. section 45a-200 is the proof a title company can ask to see, and it is effective for one year. A contested decree is appealed to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. | Sunset helps gather asset information, prepare the probate packet, and find a local probate attorney for the real estate and court steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Shelton Probate Court | Filing office for estates of people domiciled in Shelton. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural information but cannot give legal advice. | 40 White Street, Shelton, CT 06484. Mailing: P.O. Box 127, Shelton, CT 06484. Telephone: (203) 924-8462. Fax: (203) 924-8943. https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/shelton-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town Probate Court lookup if the decedent lived outside Shelton. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide lookup for decedents' estates and trusts, with coverage from January 5, 2011 to the present and a PD42 filter. | 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 plain-English guide to administering a decedent's estate. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Connecticut probate fee calculators | State calculators for the probate fee invoiced under C.G.S. section 45a-107. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court accommodation requests | Statewide ADA information and Form PC-2 for a disability accommodation request. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada. Shelton accommodation contact: (203) 924-8462. |
| Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Library Search | Statewide law library directory and search tool. Use the statewide page to find the nearest current option. | https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/ |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Statewide legal-aid intake for people with low income. | 1-800-453-3320. https://slsct.org/ |
| CTLawHelp.org | General Connecticut civil legal-help finder. | https://ctlawhelp.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is often advisable when a Shelton estate includes solely owned real estate, a dispute over a decree, an out-of-state fiduciary, tax questions, or uncertainty about whether the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure applies. The Probate Court clerk can answer limited procedural questions, but cannot give legal advice or complete the forms for you. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and debts so families can begin estate settlement with a clearer inventory and fewer missing pieces.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Connecticut probate packet for the Shelton Probate Court, including the forms and supporting documents that match the estate path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted Connecticut probate attorney who can advise on court filings, real estate, disputes, and tax-sensitive issues.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, documents, and next steps without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Shelton?
File with the Shelton Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in Shelton at death. For a will, the executor applies in that district under C.G.S. section 45a-283. For an intestate estate, jurisdiction is also tied to the district of domicile under C.G.S. section 45a-303.
Which town does the Shelton Probate Court serve?
The Shelton Probate Court serves only Shelton (C.G.S. section 45a-2). A decedent domiciled in Derby, Ansonia, Trumbull, Monroe, or another town is filed at a different Probate Court.
What are the Shelton Probate Court's hours and contact information?
The court is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., eastern time. The street address is 40 White Street, Shelton, CT 06484, the mailing address is P.O. Box 127, Shelton, CT 06484, the phone number is (203) 924-8462, and the fax number is (203) 924-8943.
What does it cost to open a decedent's estate at the Shelton 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.
Can I use online filing for the Shelton Probate Court?
The Connecticut Probate Courts run one statewide eFiling system, powered by TurboCourt, under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Attorneys who appear in probate matters must register. Registration is optional for everyone else. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
When will a Shelton Probate Court hearing be scheduled?
The Shelton Probate Court's page does not list standing hearing days or standard wait times. After filing, the court may send a hearing notice, accept waivers, or use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6.
Can I take part in a Shelton Probate Court hearing by video or phone?
Connecticut Probate Courts may allow participation by electronic means under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. The rule makes it a request the court decides, not a right, and it does not name a platform. Ask the clerk of the Shelton Probate Court what that court expects.
How do I look up a Shelton Probate Court estate online?
Use Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. It covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, and you can filter to PD42, Shelton Probate Court.
Are there separate Shelton probate forms?
No. Connecticut probate forms are statewide PC forms. The Shelton Probate Court uses the same forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court, including PC-200 under C.G.S. section 45a-283 for full administration and PC-212 under C.G.S. section 45a-273 for the small estates procedure.
Do I have to travel to Shelton if I live outside Connecticut?
Not always. Papers can be mailed to the Shelton Probate Court, and self-represented parties may use the statewide eFiling system if they choose under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. The original will cannot be eFiled and must be delivered on paper under section 7.1a. Remote participation for a hearing is handled by request under section 66.1.
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.