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Windham-Colchester Probate Court, CT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Windham-Colchester Probate Court, PD-28 |
| Courthouse address | Town Hall Building, 979 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 34, Willimantic, CT 06226 |
| Phone | (860) 465-3049 |
| Fax | (860) 465-2162 |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed Friday. |
| 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. |
| Court-specific forms | Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Windham-Colchester Probate Court does not publish forms of its own. |
| Electronic filing | The statewide eFiling system is powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register, while 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. |
| Online case index | Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. Filter to PD28. Coverage for decedents' estates and trusts runs from January 5, 2011 to the present. |
| Participation by electronic means | Connecticut Probate Courts may allow participation by electronic means under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. It is a request the court decides, not a right. |
| Website | https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/windham-colchester-probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Willimantic, build a working list of what the decedent owned, what passed outside probate, what debts exist and whether any Connecticut real estate is involved. In Connecticut, that asset picture affects both the estate settlement path and the statutory probate fee computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107, which the Probate Court invoices later.
Sunset can help organize that first pass by searching across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then turning the results into an estate settlement checklist you can use before contacting the Windham-Colchester Probate Court. That is especially useful here because the district covers six towns and the courthouse address says Willimantic even though Willimantic is part of the town of Windham.
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 Windham-Colchester Probate Court serves Chaplin, Colchester, Hampton, Lebanon, Scotland and Windham (C.G.S. section 45a-2). Willimantic is not a seventh town; it is a borough within the town of Windham.
If the decedent left a will, the executor applies to the Probate Court of the district where the testator was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). If the decedent died intestate, the Probate Court of the district where the decedent was domiciled at death has jurisdiction to grant administration (C.G.S. section 45a-303). For a nonresident decedent with Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287 lists the possible districts.
If you are unsure which Probate Court serves a Connecticut address, use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator. For a Willimantic address, the town is Windham for probate district purposes under C.G.S. section 45a-2.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts and tax filing needs before choosing a filing path. Connecticut requires an estate tax return to be filed with the Probate Court within six months of death, and the later probate fee is computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107 even if some assets pass outside probate.
- Get the statewide Connecticut probate forms. The Windham-Colchester Probate Court uses the same numbered PC forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court, and the clerk may provide forms and limited procedural information but may not give legal advice.
- Confirm that PD-28 is the correct court. The Windham-Colchester Probate Court serves Chaplin, Colchester, Hampton, Lebanon, Scotland and Windham (C.G.S. section 45a-2). Use the Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator if the address is unclear, especially for a Willimantic address within Windham.
- File the opening petition with the court if full administration is needed. The petition is PC-200 and belongs in the Probate Court for the district where the person was domiciled at death (C.G.S. section 45a-283). File at Town Hall Building, 979 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226, or mail papers to P.O. Box 34, Willimantic, CT 06226. Plan around the Monday through Thursday schedule because the office is closed Fridays.
- Do not bring a counter payment for opening a decedent's estate. No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. The Windham-Colchester Probate Court invoices the statutory probate fee later under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
- Handle eFiling correctly. The statewide eFiling system is powered by TurboCourt, and attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for everyone else. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a.
- Watch for notice and hearing instructions. Notice is required when the estate is opened and again when the final financial report or account is filed. Many estates can be decided without an appearance if written waivers are filed or if the court uses the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6.
- Ask about participation by electronic means if a hearing is set and travel is difficult. Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1 lets the court allow a party, witness or attorney to participate by electronic means on request or on the court's own motion, but the court decides the request.
- After appointment, get proof of authority from the clerk. The clerk issues a certificate of appointment, and under C.G.S. section 45a-200 that certificate is sufficient evidence of authority and identity for one year from the date it is issued.
- Administer the estate on the statewide deadlines. The decedent's estate inventory is filed 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. The 150-day claims period is governed by C.G.S. section 45a-356, and the return of claims is filed under C.G.S. section 45a-361. If the decedent owned Connecticut real estate, the land records notice is recorded with the town clerk for the town where the property is located.
- Close the estate when administration is complete. File the final financial report or account under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, follow the court's decree for distribution, and file any closing document the court directs.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Windham-Colchester Probate Court
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Windham-Colchester 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 administration or probate a will in the Probate Court for the district where the decedent was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283. |
| PC-200CI | Confidential information filed with the PC-200 petition. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in lieu of probate of will or administration for the small estates procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273. |
| PC-212A | Request for order of distribution used with a C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estate filing when needed. |
| PC-2407 | Decedent's estate inventory filed on the timing required by 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 for a decedent's estate under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. |
The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a. If you are mailing papers, use P.O. Box 34, Willimantic, CT 06226.
Local nuance
Windham-Colchester Probate Court district-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Four-day public schedule | The court is open Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed Friday. Hand-delivering an original will, asking for certified copies of a certificate of appointment under C.G.S. section 45a-200, or making an in-person filing needs to happen during the four open weekdays. |
| Willimantic address | The courthouse address uses Willimantic, but Willimantic is a borough within the town of Windham. The six towns in this probate district are Chaplin, Colchester, Hampton, Lebanon, Scotland and Windham (C.G.S. section 45a-2). |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | If the decedent was domiciled in Chaplin, Colchester, Hampton, Lebanon, Scotland or Windham, start with the Windham-Colchester Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283. A jointly held home may pass outside probate, but the 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 accounts, beneficiary designations and jointly held assets so the spouse can see what belongs in the court filing and what supports the estate tax return. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Papers can be mailed to P.O. Box 34 in Willimantic, and the original will must travel on paper because it cannot be eFiled under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a. If the small estate procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273 fits, the affidavit is filed in the Probate Court. If the out-of-state child is appointed fiduciary, the court may require the form appointing the Probate Judge as agent for service by a nonresident fiduciary. | Sunset helps sort accounts and debts before filing, prepares an organized probate packet, and helps the child decide whether a local probate attorney should handle the Willimantic filing. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A sale of solely owned real property usually means full administration through PC-200 in the Probate Court for the district where the decedent was domiciled at death 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 will expect. A contested decree is appealed to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186. | Sunset helps collect asset information, organize sale-related estate documents, and connect the parent with a Connecticut probate attorney when court authority or a real estate sale is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Windham-Colchester Probate Court | Filing office for Chaplin, Colchester, Hampton, Lebanon, Scotland and Windham. The clerk can provide forms and limited procedural help but not legal advice. The office is closed Fridays. | Town Hall Building, 979 Main Street, P.O. Box 34, Willimantic, CT 06226; (860) 465-3049; fax (860) 465-2162; https://www.ctprobate.gov/courts/windham-colchester-probate-court |
| Connecticut Court Locator | Town-by-town lookup for the correct Probate Court, including a Willimantic address within the town of Windham. | https://www.ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Case Lookup | Free statewide search of decedents' estates and trusts. Filter to PD28. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present. | 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 | Information for requesting accommodation, 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 | Connecticut self-help legal library and legal help finder. | https://ctlawhelp.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is not required in every Connecticut estate, but counsel often makes sense when the estate includes real estate, a family disagreement, missing heirs, tax questions, a nonresident fiduciary, or a need to sell property from one of the six towns served by the Windham-Colchester Probate Court. The Probate Court can answer procedural questions, but the clerk cannot give legal advice. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney when legal help is the right next step.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build the asset picture before filing, so the estate settlement starts with fewer unknowns and a clearer list of accounts, property and debts.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet for the Windham-Colchester Probate Court, including the local address, mailing option and court-specific reminders such as the Friday closure.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, a dispute, a nonresident fiduciary or court authority to sell property, Sunset can connect you with a Connecticut probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand the next filing step and decide whether attorney help is needed without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Which towns does the Windham-Colchester Probate Court serve?
The Windham-Colchester Probate Court serves Chaplin, Colchester, Hampton, Lebanon, Scotland and Windham (C.G.S. section 45a-2). It is Probate District PD-28.
Is Willimantic one of the towns served by the Windham-Colchester Probate Court?
No. Willimantic is a borough within the town of Windham, not a separate Connecticut town. The court's address uses Willimantic, but a Willimantic address falls within Windham for probate district purposes under C.G.S. section 45a-2.
Is the Windham-Colchester Probate Court open on Fridays?
No. The court is open Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed Friday. If you need to hand-deliver an original will or pick up certified copies, plan for one of the four open weekdays.
Where do I file probate papers for this district?
File in person at Town Hall Building, 979 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226, or mail papers to P.O. Box 34, Willimantic, CT 06226. For a decedent domiciled in Chaplin, Colchester, Hampton, Lebanon, Scotland or Windham, the will petition belongs in this Probate Court under C.G.S. section 45a-283, and an intestate estate belongs here under C.G.S. section 45a-303.
What does it cost to open a decedent's estate at the Windham-Colchester Probate Court?
No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. The Probate Court invoices the statutory probate fee later, computed on the value of the estate under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
Does the Windham-Colchester Probate Court have separate local probate forms?
No. Connecticut probate forms are statewide. The Windham-Colchester Probate Court uses the same numbered PC forms as every other Connecticut Probate Court, and the court does not publish forms of its own.
Can I use eFiling for the Windham-Colchester Probate Court?
The Connecticut Probate Courts use one statewide eFiling system powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register, 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.
Can I take part in a hearing by electronic means?
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 Windham-Colchester Probate Court what that court expects.
Do I have to travel to Willimantic for every probate step?
Not always. Papers can be mailed to the P.O. box, and many estates are decided without an appearance when written waivers are filed or when the court uses the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. If the court sets a hearing and travel is difficult, ask about participation by electronic means under section 66.1.
How do I look up a Windham-Colchester estate online?
Use Connecticut Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup and filter to PD28. The statewide index covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete coverage before that date. The tool shows case index information and fiduciary contact information, not the full court file.
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.