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West Haven Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Court | West Haven Probate Court, PD-39 |
| Courthouse address | City Hall, 355 Main Street, 2nd Floor, West Haven, CT 06516 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 127, West Haven, CT 06516 |
| Phone | (203) 937-3552 |
| Fax | (203) 937-3556 |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. |
| District served | West Haven only, under C.G.S. section 45a-2 |
| 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 are used. The court does not publish forms of its own. |
| eFiling | Statewide TurboCourt eFiling is mandatory for attorneys who appear in a probate matter and optional for other filers 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. |
| Case lookup | Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with earlier case information incomplete. Filter to PD39. |
| Remote participation | The court may allow participation by electronic means on request under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. It is not a right, and the rule names no platform. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/west-haven-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything with the West Haven Probate Court, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, real estate, debts, beneficiary designations and jointly owned property. Connecticut estate settlement depends on the full value picture because the Probate Court later invoices the fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107, and a Connecticut estate tax return is filed with the Probate Court within six months even when no full estate is opened.
Sunset can search across 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts and assets before the first filing. That gives you a more accurate starting point for the West Haven estate settlement packet, the later inventory under C.G.S. section 45a-341, and the information the court may request.
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 West Haven Probate Court serves West Haven (C.G.S. section 45a-2). If the decedent was domiciled in West Haven at death, that is where the estate is filed for a will under C.G.S. section 45a-283 and for an intestate estate under C.G.S. section 45a-303. 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 West Haven courthouse is in the town the court serves, at City Hall, 355 Main Street, 2nd Floor. This is a separate court from New Haven Probate Court, PD-38, and East Haven-North Haven Probate Court, PD-36. Use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator if a street address or family residence could point to a different town.
For a nonresident decedent who owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 lists the possible Connecticut districts. Do not assume West Haven is the correct venue unless the property or the statutory filing point connects to this district under C.G.S. section 45a-283 or section 45a-287.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, jointly held property and beneficiary-designated accounts before filing. Connecticut requires an estate tax return to be filed with the Probate Court within six months, and the later probate fee is computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
- Confirm that West Haven Probate Court is the right court. It serves West Haven only under C.G.S. section 45a-2, and it is different from New Haven Probate Court and East Haven-North Haven Probate Court. For a West Haven domiciled decedent, file here under C.G.S. section 45a-283 for a will or C.G.S. section 45a-303 for an intestate estate.
- Get the statewide forms. The opening petition is PC-200, Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, for an estate filed where the decedent was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283. A qualifying small-estate filing uses the C.G.S. section 45a-273 affidavit procedure instead.
- File with the West Haven Probate Court at City Hall, 355 Main Street, 2nd Floor, West Haven, CT 06516, or mail papers to P.O. Box 127, West Haven, CT 06516. Call (203) 937-3552 if you need current filing instructions.
- Do not attach an opening payment for a decedent's estate. No filing fee is due when the estate is opened, and the Probate Court invoices the statutory amount later under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
- Send the original will on paper if there is one. The Connecticut Probate Courts use statewide TurboCourt eFiling, attorneys who appear must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, and registration is optional for other filers, but the original will cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a.
- Watch for notice and hearing instructions. Notice is required when the estate is opened and when the final financial report or account is filed. Many matters proceed on written waivers or through the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6, if no party requests a hearing.
- If the court appoints you, ask the clerk for the certificate of appointment. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, the certificate of appointment is sufficient evidence of your authority and identity for one year from the date it is issued.
- Administer the estate on the statewide deadlines. File the decedent's estate inventory within two months after qualification unless the court extends the time under C.G.S. section 45a-341. The court places the newspaper notice to creditors under C.G.S. section 45a-354, and the return of claims follows under C.G.S. section 45a-361.
- If the decedent owned Connecticut real estate, handle the land records step separately from the court filing. The notice for land records is recorded with the town clerk in each Connecticut town where the real estate is located.
- Close with the required financial report or account. The final financial report, including PC-246 when used, is governed by Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, and the fiduciary distributes property only as the court directs.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the West Haven Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The West Haven 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 | Opening petition for administration or probate of a will in the Probate Court for the district where the decedent was domiciled, including West Haven filings under 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-estate procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273. |
| PC-212A and PC-212CI | Related C.G.S. section 45a-273 small-estate distribution and confidential-information forms when required. |
| PC-2407 | Inventory for decedents' estates, filed on the inventory deadline under C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| PC-246 | Financial report for a decedent's estate under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. |
| PC-482 | Appointment of Probate Judge as agent for service by a nonresident fiduciary, when that status applies. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in West Haven, start with the West Haven Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. A co-owned home may pass outside the probate estate, 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, beneficiary designations and co-owned assets so the spouse can see what may pass outside probate and what still must be reported for Connecticut estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estate | Papers can be mailed to P.O. Box 127 in West Haven. The original will must travel on paper because it cannot be eFiled under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a. If the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small-estate procedure fits, the affidavit is filed in the Probate Court. | Sunset organizes the asset list, flags missing accounts and can help generate the C.G.S. section 45a-273 packet. If the adult child will serve from outside Connecticut, Sunset can help connect the family with counsel about any nonresident fiduciary paperwork. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of solely owned real property usually points to full administration through PC-200 in the Probate Court for the district where the child was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283. After appointment, the certificate of appointment under C.G.S. section 45a-200 is the proof a buyer's attorney or title company may expect. Any contested decree is appealed under C.G.S. section 45a-186. | Sunset helps assemble the probate packet, gather account information and connect the parent to a vetted Connecticut probate attorney for the real estate and court-order steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| West Haven Probate Court | Filing office for West Haven. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help, but not legal advice. | City Hall, 355 Main Street, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 127, West Haven, CT 06516; (203) 937-3552; fax (203) 937-3556; https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/west-haven-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for the correct Probate Court at ctprobate.gov, useful when the address is near another Haven-area court. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search of decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present. Filter to PD39. | 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 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 | ADA accommodation information, including Form PC-2 and the request for at least ten days' notice where possible. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| Connecticut Judicial Branch law libraries | Public law libraries with librarians who can help locate statutes, rules and forms. They do not give legal advice. | https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/ |
| 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 Probate Court materials say a lawyer is not required in every estate, but estate matters can be complex and legal advice is often advisable. Counsel is especially useful when a West Haven estate includes real property to sell, tax questions, a contested will, a fiduciary living outside Connecticut, unclear creditors, or an appeal to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank, investment, retirement, insurance and other accounts so the estate settlement starts with a complete asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to help assemble the Connecticut forms and supporting documents for the West Haven Probate Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Connecticut probate attorney familiar with Probate Court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next steps and prepare for court without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in West Haven?
File with the West Haven Probate Court if the decedent was domiciled in West Haven. The court serves West Haven only under C.G.S. section 45a-2, and the filing rule for a will points to the Probate Court of the district where the testator was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283. For an intestate estate, C.G.S. section 45a-303 uses the same domicile-based district rule.
Is West Haven Probate Court the same as New Haven Probate Court?
No. West Haven Probate Court is PD-39. New Haven Probate Court is PD-38, and East Haven-North Haven Probate Court is PD-36. Use the Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator to match the town to the correct Probate Court.
What are the West Haven Probate Court hours?
The court is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call (203) 937-3552 before traveling if timing matters.
What does it cost to open a decedent's estate at West Haven Probate Court?
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 West Haven 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.
Are there separate West Haven probate forms?
No separate West Haven packet is published. Connecticut probate forms are statewide, and the West Haven Probate Court uses the same numbered PC forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court.
Can I e-file at the West Haven Probate Court?
The Connecticut Probate Courts run one statewide eFiling system, powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys who appear in a probate matter must register for it 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 and file at the West Haven Probate Court that way. Once you have eFiling access to a matter you must eFile everything in it and you receive the court's decrees and notices electronically under section 22.3. The original will can never be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
Can I take part in a West Haven probate 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 West Haven Probate Court what that court expects.
Do I have to travel to West Haven to handle the estate?
Papers can be mailed to P.O. Box 127, West Haven, CT 06516, and many matters are handled on written waivers or through the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. If a hearing or paper filing requires a trip, plan around the Friday closing time of 3:30 p.m.
How do I look up a West Haven estate online?
Use Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD39. The statewide tool covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with earlier case information incomplete. It shows index information and fiduciary contact information, not court filings.
Who gives me proof that I can act for the estate?
When the Probate Court appoints you, the court's clerk issues a certificate of appointment. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, the certificate of appointment 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.
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.