Connecticut Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Connecticut rule |
|---|---|
| Court system | Connecticut probate is handled by a separate statewide system of 54 probate districts, each with one Probate Court, defined town by town in C.G.S. section 45a-2. Probate is not handled by the Superior Court and is not organized by county. |
| Filing officer | The clerk of the Probate Court receives filings and issues certificates. The clerk is appointed by the judge under C.G.S. section 45a-18(d). |
| Where to file | For a Connecticut resident, file in the probate district where the decedent was domiciled at death. Use C.G.S. section 45a-283 for a will and C.G.S. section 45a-303 for letters of administration. For a nonresident who owned Connecticut property, use C.G.S. section 45a-287. The Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator turns a town into the correct Probate Court. |
| Authority document | The clerk issues a certificate of appointment. It is sufficient evidence of the fiduciary's authority and identity for one year under C.G.S. section 45a-200. It is the Connecticut authority document for an executor or administrator. |
| Probate routes | Connecticut uses the affidavit in lieu of administration for qualifying estates under C.G.S. section 45a-273, full administration under C.G.S. sections 45a-283 and 45a-303, and ancillary administration under C.G.S. sections 45a-287 and 45a-288. |
| Small estates | The C.G.S. section 45a-273 procedure applies only when solely owned tangible and intangible personal property does not exceed $40,000 and the decedent had no solely owned Connecticut real property. |
| 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 uses a statewide numbered PC form set published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator. The forms and procedures are statewide under the Probate Court Rules of Procedure, whose stated purpose is to promote uniform procedures. C.G.S. section 45a-105 makes the fees uniform. |
| E-filing | Connecticut Probate Courts use one statewide eFiling system powered by TurboCourt. Attorneys must register under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1. Registration is optional for other people. The original will cannot be eFiled and must reach the court on paper under section 7.1a. |
| Case search | Connecticut publishes a free statewide Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. It covers decedents' estates and trusts from January 5, 2011 to the present, with incomplete data before that date. |
| Remote appearance | A party, witness or attorney may request participation by electronic means. The Probate Court decides under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 66.1. It is not a right, and the rule names no platform. |
| Inventory deadline | The fiduciary files the inventory within two months after qualification, extendable by the court for cause to not more than four months, under C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| Creditor claims | After the first fiduciary is appointed, the court places newspaper notice within 14 days under C.G.S. section 45a-354. The 150-day creditor period is governed by C.G.S. section 45a-356. |
| Estate tax | Connecticut has a state estate tax. For deaths during 2026, the exemption amount is $15 million, and tax above the federal basic exclusion amount is 12% of the excess under C.G.S. section 12-391. |
| Estate tax return | Every Connecticut estate must file an estate tax return with the Probate Court within six months of death under C.G.S. section 12-392, whether or not an estate is opened. |
| Inheritance tax | Connecticut has no inheritance tax. The former succession tax applies only to deaths on or before January 1, 2005 under C.G.S. section 12-340. |
| Appeal | A person aggrieved by a Probate Court decree may appeal to the Superior Court, generally within thirty days, under C.G.S. section 45a-186. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Connecticut, identify the assets, debts, beneficiary designations and real estate first. The estate settlement path depends on what stood in the decedent's sole name: any solely owned Connecticut real property rules out the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure, and solely owned personal property must not exceed $40,000. Separately, the probate fee is computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107 on everything the decedent owned, including assets that pass outside probate.
Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions for accounts, policies and holdings, then organizes the information for Connecticut estate settlement. That helps you choose between the affidavit in lieu of administration and full administration, complete the statewide PC forms, and avoid missing an account that changes the route, the estate tax return due within six months, or the Probate Court invoice.
Which court handles probate
Connecticut probate is organized by probate district, not by county. C.G.S. section 45a-2 creates 54 probate districts, each made up of named towns, and the 54 districts cover all 169 Connecticut towns. The current 54-district map took effect January 5, 2011. Connecticut's counties have no probate role, and a Connecticut estate is never filed by county.
For a resident decedent with a will, the named executor applies to the Probate Court for the district where the decedent was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283(a). For a resident decedent with no will, the Probate Court in the district where the decedent was domiciled grants letters of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-303(a)(1). For a nonresident who owned Connecticut property, C.G.S. section 45a-287(a) lists the possible districts, and the first court to assume jurisdiction retains it.
If you know the town but not the probate district, use the statewide Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator. A Probate Court may sit in any town in the district or another location in the state if needed to facilitate a party's attendance under C.G.S. section 45a-7. A Probate Court decision may be appealed to the Superior Court, generally within thirty days, under C.G.S. section 45a-186.
The probate process
- Identify the Connecticut town where the decedent was domiciled at death, then use ctprobate.gov/court-locator to find the Probate Court for that probate district under C.G.S. sections 45a-2 and 45a-283.
- Deliver the original will to the Probate Court or the named executor forthwith after learning of the death under C.G.S. section 45a-282. If you are named executor, apply for probate of the will within thirty days of death under C.G.S. section 45a-283.
- Choose the statewide route. Use form PC-212 for the affidavit in lieu of administration if the estate qualifies under C.G.S. section 45a-273. Use form PC-200 for full administration under C.G.S. section 45a-283 or C.G.S. section 45a-303. Use form PC-201 for ancillary administration of a nonresident's Connecticut property under C.G.S. section 45a-287.
- File with the Probate Court for the district. A self-represented person may use the statewide eFiling system under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, but the original will, codicil or other testamentary document cannot be eFiled and must be delivered on paper under section 7.1a.
- Open the estate without paying money at the counter. Under section 6.1 of the Probate Court Rules of Procedure, no filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. The Probate Court invoices the statutory probate fee later under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
- Watch the notice path. The court may schedule a hearing, may enter a decree without a formal hearing if everyone entitled to notice files written waivers, or may use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6.
- Address bond. The court generally requires a probate bond and sets the amount, but may decide not to require one if the will excuses bond, if the assets of the estate are less than $20,000 or the amount not restricted by Probate Court order is less than $10,000, or if all heirs or beneficiaries waive bond under C.G.S. section 45a-289.
- After appointment, use the certificate of appointment issued by the clerk. Under C.G.S. section 45a-200, the certificate of appointment proves the fiduciary's authority and identity for one year.
- If the decedent owned Connecticut real estate, record form PC-251, Notice for Land Records/Appointment of Fiduciary, in the land records of each town where the real estate is located within two months of appointment. The authority for this clock is the Probate Court Administrator's Administration of Decedents' Estates guide, Step 3.
- File the inventory on form PC-2407 within two months after qualification, unless the court extends the time for cause to not more than four months, under C.G.S. section 45a-341.
- Work the creditor calendar. The court publishes newspaper notice within 14 days after appointment of the first fiduciary under C.G.S. section 45a-354. Creditors have the 150-day period described in C.G.S. section 45a-356, and the fiduciary files form PC-237, Return of Claims and List of Notified Creditors, within 60 days after that period ends under C.G.S. section 45a-361. A fiduciary may use form PC-234 for the optional 90-day notice under C.G.S. section 45a-357.
- File the Connecticut estate tax return with the Probate Court within six months of death under C.G.S. section 12-392. A nontaxable estate uses CT-706 NT with the Probate Court; a taxable estate uses CT-706/709 with the Department of Revenue Services and files a complete copy with the Probate Court.
- Close the estate when administration is complete. File the financial report on form PC-246 under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, or the required account on form PC-242. Distribute on the court's order. If the court directs it, file form PC-213, Affidavit of Closing, within 30 days after completing distribution under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12.
Types of probate
| Route | When it fits | Core forms and authority | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affidavit in lieu of administration | The decedent had no solely owned Connecticut real property, and solely owned tangible and intangible personal property that passes through probate does not exceed $40,000. | Form PC-212, with PC-212A and PC-212CI, under C.G.S. section 45a-273. | This is Connecticut's small estates procedure under C.G.S. section 45a-273. It is filed in the Probate Court and decided by decree. It is not an out-of-court bank affidavit. |
| Full administration | The estate has solely owned Connecticut real property, personal property above the C.G.S. section 45a-273 limit, a will to admit, or administration work that requires appointment of an executor or administrator. | Form PC-200, Petition/Administration or Probate of Will, with PC-200CI. Testate resident venue is C.G.S. section 45a-283. Intestate letters of administration are governed by C.G.S. section 45a-303. | The court gives notice, appoints the fiduciary, addresses bond, receives the inventory, manages claims, receives the estate tax return due within six months, and approves closing. |
| Ancillary administration | A nonresident decedent owned Connecticut property. | Form PC-201, Petition/Ancillary Probate of Will, with PC-201CI. Venue is governed by C.G.S. section 45a-287, and C.G.S. section 45a-288 governs an exemplified copy of a foreign will and record. | C.G.S. section 45a-287 lists possible Connecticut districts, and the first Probate Court to assume jurisdiction retains it. |
Two Connecticut mechanisms are not separate estate-opening routes. An estate examiner under C.G.S. section 45a-317a and form PC-207 is a limited appointment to obtain financial or medical information and has no authority over assets. The affidavit to settle a full estate on form PC-2107, under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.23, converts an already open full estate to small-estate settlement and does not open an estate.
Executor duties
Executor duties in Connecticut
| Duty | Connecticut rule |
|---|---|
| Start the case | An executor named in a will applies for probate within thirty days of death in the Probate Court for the district where the decedent was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If there is no will, an administrator is appointed through letters of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-303. |
| Accept appointment and authority | After appointment, the fiduciary uses the certificate of appointment issued by the clerk. The certificate of appointment is sufficient evidence of authority and identity for one year under C.G.S. section 45a-200. |
| Secure property | The executor or administrator takes possession of the estate property and identifies assets for the inventory required by C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| Record real estate notice | If the decedent owned Connecticut real estate, record form PC-251 in the land records of each town where the real estate is located within two months of appointment. This timing comes from the Probate Court Administrator's Administration of Decedents' Estates guide, Step 3. |
| File the inventory | File form PC-2407 within two months after qualification, unless the court extends the time for cause to not more than four months, under C.G.S. section 45a-341. |
| Handle creditors | The court places newspaper notice within 14 days of the first fiduciary's appointment under C.G.S. section 45a-354. The fiduciary works the 150-day creditor period under C.G.S. section 45a-356 and files form PC-237 within 60 days after the period ends under C.G.S. section 45a-361. |
| Use optional claim shortening carefully | A fiduciary may use form PC-234 to give a creditor not less than 90 days to act. A missed deadline after that notice is barred under C.G.S. section 45a-357. |
| File taxes | File the Connecticut estate tax return with the Probate Court within six months of death under C.G.S. section 12-392. This is required even when the estate is not taxable. |
| Sell real estate only with authority | If the will does not authorize the sale of real estate, seek Probate Court permission before selling by using form PC-400. |
| Report if the estate stays open | If no interim or final report or account has been filed, file form PC-286 within three months after the first anniversary of appointment and annually after that under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.21. |
| Close | File the final financial report on form PC-246 under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, or the required account on form PC-242. Distribute on the court's order. If directed, file form PC-213 under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Connecticut
Connecticut probate forms are statewide. Every Connecticut Probate Court uses the same numbered PC forms, published free by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator at ctprobate.gov. The courts do not publish forms of their own. The statewide Rules of Procedure are intended to promote uniform procedures, and a court may still require a document in paper form under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 7.1a.
| Form | Title | Use |
|---|---|---|
| PC-200 | Petition/Administration or Probate of Will | The opening petition for full administration, whether testate under C.G.S. section 45a-283 or with letters of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-303. Filed with PC-200CI. |
| PC-201 | Petition/Ancillary Probate of Will | Used for ancillary administration when a nonresident decedent owned Connecticut property under C.G.S. section 45a-287. Filed with PC-201CI. |
| PC-212 | Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration | Used for the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure. PC-212A requests an order of distribution, and PC-212CI carries confidential data. |
| PC-210 | Affidavit in Proof of Will and/or Codicil | Used to prove a will or codicil. |
| PC-211 | Affidavit for Filing Will not Submitted for Probate | Used when the decedent left a will but no assets passing under it, so the will is filed rather than admitted. |
| PC-171 | Acceptance of Fiduciary Appointment | Used by a fiduciary who accepts appointment. |
| PC-280 / PC-480 | Bond Waiver / Probate Bond | Used in the bond process under C.G.S. section 45a-289. |
| PC-251 | Notice for Land Records/Appointment of Fiduciary | Recorded with the town clerk, not filed in court, in each Connecticut town where the decedent owned real estate. The Probate Court Administrator's Administration of Decedents' Estates guide, Step 3, says to record it within two months of appointment and to obtain it from the court. |
| PC-2407 | Inventory/Decedents' Estates | The decedent's estate inventory filed within two months after qualification under C.G.S. section 45a-341. PC-440 is the general inventory form, but PC-2407 is the decedent's estate form named in the 2026 guide. |
| PC-234 | Fiduciary's Notice to Creditors to Present Claims | The optional notice that gives a creditor not less than 90 days under C.G.S. section 45a-357. |
| PC-237 | Return of Claims and List of Notified Creditors | Filed within 60 days after the 150-day creditor period ends under C.G.S. section 45a-361. |
| PC-246 | Financial Report/Decedent's Estate | The simpler closing report used in most estates under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19. |
| PC-241 / PC-242 | Cover Sheet/Administration Account/Decedent's Estate; Decedent's Estate Administration Account (Short Form) | The fuller account forms used when an account is required. |
| PC-244A / PC-245 | Waiver of Right to Hearing Re: Financial Report / Re: Account | Used when parties waive hearing rights on closing filings. |
| PC-286 | Status Update/Decedent's Estate | Due within three months after the first anniversary of appointment and annually after that if no interim or final report or account has been filed, under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.21. |
| PC-213 | Affidavit of Closing | Filed within 30 days after completing distribution of all assets if the court directs it, under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12. |
| PC-2107 | Affidavit to Settle Full Estate | Used under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.23, to convert an already open full estate to small-estate settlement. It does not open an estate. |
| PC-250 | Certificate of Devise, Descent, or Distribution | The real-property title document. |
| PC-205B | Petition for Certificate Releasing Liens | Used for estate tax and probate fee liens, including the lien on real property under C.G.S. section 45a-107b. |
| PC-207 | Petition/Estate Examiner for Limited Purpose | Used for an estate examiner under C.G.S. section 45a-317a. Filed with PC-207CI. |
| PC-400 | Petition to Sell or Mortgage Real Property | Used when court permission is needed to sell or mortgage real estate. |
| PC-202 | Petition for Support Allowance | Used for a surviving spouse or dependents during settlement. |
| PC-401 | Petition/Extension of Time to Pay Probate Fees | Used to request more time to pay probate fees, including interest, under C.G.S. section 45a-107. |
| PC-184 | Request/Order - Waiver of Fees (Petitioner) | Used for waiver of fees under C.G.S. section 45a-111 and Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 6.2. |
| PC-101 | Motion for Continuance | A continuance requested by a party, or caused by a failure to appear, carries a $50 fee under C.G.S. section 45a-106a. |
| PC-181 / PC-183 | General Waiver / Appearance of Attorney | Used for waiver and attorney appearance filings. |
| PC-2 | Request for Accommodation | Used to request an accommodation. The Probate Courts ask for at least ten days' notice when possible, and the ten-day request can be waived in an emergency. |
Connecticut tax forms are separate from the PC form set. A nontaxable estate uses CT-706 NT and files it with the Probate Court within six months. A taxable estate uses CT-706/709, files the original with the Department of Revenue Services, and files a complete copy with the Probate Court within six months. Connecticut is the only state with a standalone gift tax, Form CT-706/709 is a combined estate and gift tax return, and Connecticut taxable gifts made on or after January 1, 2005 are added back into the Connecticut taxable estate.
Fees
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 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.
| Basis for computation | Fee for a person who died on or after July 1, 2016 | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| $0 to $500 | $25 | C.G.S. section 45a-107 |
| $501 to $1,000 | $50 | C.G.S. section 45a-107 |
| $1,000 to $10,000 | $50, plus 1% of all in excess of $1,000 | C.G.S. section 45a-107 |
| $10,000 to $500,000 | $150, plus .35% of all in excess of $10,000 | C.G.S. section 45a-107 |
| $500,000 to $2,000,000 | $1,865, plus .25% of all in excess of $500,000 | C.G.S. section 45a-107 |
| $2,000,000 to $8,877,000 | $5,615, plus .5% of all in excess of $2,000,000 | C.G.S. section 45a-107 |
| $8,877,000 and over | $40,000 | C.G.S. section 45a-107 |
The basis for the C.G.S. section 45a-107 fee is the greatest of the gross estate for succession tax purposes, the inventory including supplements, the Connecticut taxable estate, and the gross estate for estate tax purposes, plus net wrongful-death recovery. Any portion determined by property passing to the surviving spouse is reduced by fifty per cent. Property outside Connecticut is carved out for a Connecticut-domiciled decedent, and only Connecticut-situs real and tangible property counts for a nondomiciliary.
Interest under C.G.S. section 45a-107 runs at 0.5 per cent per month on unpaid decedents' estate fees beginning 30 days after the invoice, or, if the Connecticut estate tax return is not filed within six months, beginning 30 days after the return was due. The interest rules do not apply if the basis for fees does not exceed $40,000, or if the basis does not exceed $500,000 and any portion passes to a surviving spouse. The court may extend time to pay for undue hardship using form PC-401, but the rule does not create a general interest waiver.
A petitioner who cannot pay may request waiver of fees under C.G.S. section 45a-111 using form PC-184. C.G.S. section 45a-111 also allows postponement of a filing fee where payment up front would cause undue delay or hardship, and it exempts the settlement of the estate of a member of the armed forces who died in service in time of war as defined in C.G.S. section 27-103.
C.G.S. section 45a-107b creates a lien on real property in Connecticut for unpaid decedents' estate probate fees, with a Probate Court release procedure on form PC-205B.
| Other filing | Fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| All other petitions, motions and applications, other than decedents' estates and accountings | $250 | C.G.S. section 45a-106a |
| Appoint an estate examiner | $50 | C.G.S. sections 45a-106a and 45a-107 |
| Hear and decide a disallowed claim | $50 | C.G.S. section 45a-107 |
| Open a safe deposit box | $50 | C.G.S. section 45a-107 |
| Custody of remains | $150 | C.G.S. section 45a-106a |
| Landlord's affidavit re death of a tenant | $150 | C.G.S. section 45a-106a |
| Release of funds from a restricted account, with hearing | $150 | C.G.S. section 45a-106a |
| Continuance requested by a party, or caused by a failure to appear | $50 plus rescheduling expenses, waivable for cause | C.G.S. sections 45a-106a and 45a-107 |
| Petition to exercise the decanting power | $300 | C.G.S. section 45a-106a |
| Issuance of a foreign subpoena | $100 | C.G.S. section 45a-106a |
Timeline
- Forthwith after learning of the death: deliver the will to the Probate Court or to the named executor under C.G.S. section 45a-282.
- Within thirty days after death: the named executor applies for probate of the will in the district where the decedent was domiciled under C.G.S. section 45a-283.
- After appointment of the first fiduciary: the court places newspaper notice to creditors within 14 days under C.G.S. section 45a-354.
- Within two months of appointment: if the decedent owned Connecticut real estate, record form PC-251 in the land records of each town where the property is located. The authority for this clock is the Probate Court Administrator's Administration of Decedents' Estates guide, Step 3.
- Within two months after qualification: file the inventory on form PC-2407 under C.G.S. section 45a-341. The court may extend the time for cause to not more than four months under C.G.S. section 45a-341.
- During the 150-day creditor period: creditors present claims under C.G.S. section 45a-356. A fiduciary who uses the optional PC-234 notice may give a creditor not less than 90 days, and a missed deadline after that notice is barred under C.G.S. section 45a-357.
- Within 60 days after the 150-day period ends: file form PC-237, Return of Claims and List of Notified Creditors, under C.G.S. section 45a-361.
- Within six months of death: file the Connecticut estate tax return with the Probate Court under C.G.S. section 12-392. Interest on the probate fee can run from a late estate tax return under C.G.S. section 45a-107.
- Within three months after the first anniversary of appointment, and annually after that if needed: file form PC-286 if no interim or final report or account has been filed, under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.21.
- Usually within 12 months of death, according to the Probate Court Administrator's guide, and legally when settlement is complete: file form PC-246 under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 30.19, or the required account on form PC-242.
- Within 30 days after completing distribution, if the court directs it: file form PC-213 under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 36.12.
- Within thirty days after the Probate Court sends a decree in a decedent's estate matter: an aggrieved person generally files an appeal to the Superior Court under C.G.S. section 45a-186.
State-specific considerations
California uses statewide Judicial Council forms (the DE-series). The same forms apply in all 58 counties, although counties may add local cover sheets. Los Angeles requires LASC PRO 010.
| Issue | Connecticut point |
|---|---|
| Probate district, not county | Connecticut probate is a separate statewide system of 54 probate districts under C.G.S. section 45a-2. A reader looks up the town and probate district, not a county. |
| Counter cost versus later bill | No filing fee is due when a decedent's estate is opened. The later invoice is the statutory probate fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107, and fees are uniform statewide under C.G.S. section 45a-105. |
| Estate tax return for every estate | Every estate files a Connecticut estate tax return with the Probate Court within six months under C.G.S. section 12-392, whether or not a probate estate is opened, and the C.G.S. section 45a-107 probate fee is computed from it. |
| Authority document | Connecticut uses a certificate of appointment issued by the clerk as the fiduciary authority document. The certificate is sufficient evidence of authority for one year under C.G.S. section 45a-200. |
| Original will | The original will cannot be eFiled. Even when eFiling is used under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, section 7.1a requires the original will, codicil or other testamentary document to reach the court on paper. |
| Statewide machinery | The fee, form set, eFiling system, case lookup and procedural rules are statewide. District pages add courthouse contact details and towns served under C.G.S. section 45a-2, not different probate law. |
Small-estate alternatives
Connecticut's small estates procedure is the affidavit in lieu of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-273. The decedent's solely owned tangible and intangible personal property, excluding property that passes outside probate by operation of law, must not exceed $40,000, and the decedent must have had no solely owned real property in Connecticut at death. The $40,000 figure was substituted by P.A. 07-32, the modern procedure was substituted by P.A. 15-217, and the most recent amendment listed in the research source was P.A. 24-81, effective July 1, 2024.
The form is PC-212, Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration, with PC-212A for a request for order of distribution and PC-212CI for confidential data. C.G.S. section 45a-273 makes this a Probate Court filing decided by decree. It is not an out-of-court bank affidavit.
Solely owned Connecticut real property is an absolute bar to the C.G.S. section 45a-273 procedure, no matter what the real estate is worth. Survivorship and beneficiary-designated assets do not count toward the $40,000 personal-property ceiling, and the Probate Court Administrator's 2026 guide says a decedent may own survivorship assets exceeding $40,000 and still qualify. Connecticut imposes no waiting period before filing the affidavit in lieu under C.G.S. section 45a-273. A Connecticut estate tax return is still due within six months, and the C.G.S. section 45a-107 probate fee is still billed.
Recent updates
| Change | Effective | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| The Probate Court Rules of Procedure were revised. The 2026 edition took effect July 1, 2026. Sections 7.1a and 22.1 address documents that cannot be eFiled and who must register for eFiling. | July 1, 2026 | Probate Court Rules of Procedure, 2026 edition |
| The Connecticut estate tax exemption for deaths during 2026 is $15 million, the federal basic exclusion amount for the year. | For deaths during 2026 | C.G.S. section 12-391; Department of Revenue Services estate and gift tax information; 2026 Form CT-706 NT instructions |
| A claimant may pursue a tort claim against a decedent's estate directly in the Superior Court, to the extent of existing insurance coverage, without going through the chapter 802b claims procedure. | October 1, 2025 | P.A. 25-48, section 8; 2025 Legislative Summary, Office of the Probate Court Administrator |
| A change to the Probate Court appeal statute is scheduled but is not yet in force. It addresses children's matters appeals and sending a copy of an appeal of a Probate Court decision to the Probate Court when filed. | October 1, 2026 | P.A. 26-87, section 4; 2026 Legislative Summary, Office of the Probate Court Administrator, dated July 15, 2026 |
| The C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure threshold and the C.G.S. section 45a-107 graduated probate fee were unchanged by the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions. | Status as of August 2026 | C.G.S. sections 45a-273 and 45a-107; 2025 and 2026 Legislative Summaries, Office of the Probate Court Administrator |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Connecticut path | What to watch | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | A survivorship home passes outside probate and is not distributed by the Probate Court. If the decedent had no solely owned Connecticut real property and solely owned personal property does not exceed $40,000, the spouse may use form PC-212 under C.G.S. section 45a-273. Otherwise, use full administration on form PC-200 under C.G.S. section 45a-283. | Survivorship assets do not count toward the $40,000 C.G.S. section 45a-273 ceiling, but the Connecticut estate tax return is still due within six months under C.G.S. section 12-392, and the C.G.S. section 45a-107 probate fee is computed from what the decedent owned. The portion passing to the surviving spouse is counted at half for the fee basis. | Sunset helps identify accounts, beneficiary-designated assets, debts and real estate so the spouse can choose the right estate settlement path and prepare the Probate Court filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | The filing goes to the Probate Court for the probate district containing the town where the parent was domiciled at death under C.G.S. sections 45a-283 and 45a-303. A New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Florida child can use ctprobate.gov/court-locator to find the court. If the C.G.S. section 45a-273 requirements are met, use form PC-212. | A self-represented party may use the statewide eFiling system under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, but the original will cannot be eFiled under section 7.1a. A nonresident fiduciary may need the appointment of the probate judge as agent for service. Remote participation is a request decided under section 66.1, not a travel plan by itself. | Sunset organizes the asset picture, generates the Connecticut form packet and can connect the family with a probate attorney in the correct probate district. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Solely owned Connecticut real estate rules out the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure. The parent uses full administration on form PC-200 under C.G.S. section 45a-283 or C.G.S. section 45a-303. After appointment, the fiduciary records form PC-251 in the land records under the Probate Court Administrator's guide, files form PC-2407 under C.G.S. section 45a-341, and seeks permission to sell real estate with form PC-400 unless the will authorizes the sale. | The court places creditor newspaper notice within 14 days under C.G.S. section 45a-354. Creditors have the 150-day period described in C.G.S. section 45a-356, and form PC-237 is due within 60 days after that period ends under C.G.S. section 45a-361. Form PC-250 is the real-property title document, and closing uses form PC-246 under section 30.19 and, if directed, form PC-213 under section 36.12. | Sunset helps gather property, account and debt information, keeps the estate settlement checklist aligned with the claims calendar, and finds a local probate attorney when a sale needs court authority. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Probate Courts Court Locator | A town dropdown that resolves any Connecticut town to its Probate Court. This is the first stop when you know the town but not the probate district under C.G.S. section 45a-2. | ctprobate.gov/court-locator |
| Connecticut Probate Courts Case Lookup | Free statewide search of decedents' estates and trusts by name and probate district, with coverage from January 5, 2011 to the present and fiduciary contact information on drill-down. | ctprobate.gov/case-lookup |
| Statewide PC form catalogue | All numbered PC forms, free and fillable, including the Trusts and Estates forms used to open, administer and close a Connecticut decedent's estate. | ctprobate.gov/forms-list |
| Administration of Decedents' Estates user guide | The Probate Court Administrator's 2026 plain-English guide to full administration, the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure, bond, hearing paths and fees. | ctprobate.gov/trusts-estates/trusts-estates-user-guides |
| Fees and expenses calculators | Calculators for filing fees, decedents' estate fees, accounts and financial reports, copies and document recording. The decedents' estate calculator estimates the C.G.S. section 45a-107 fee. | ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators |
| Probate Court Rules of Procedure | The statewide 2026 edition, effective July 1, 2026, covering section 6.1 fees, section 8.6 streamline notice, section 22.1 eFiling, decedents' estates and section 66.1 electronic means participation. | ctprobate.gov/rules-procedure |
| Connecticut Probate Courts frequently asked questions | The courts' own explanation of what Probate Court staff can and cannot do, what hearings are like, and when a person should consider an attorney. | ctprobate.gov/frequently-asked-questions |
| Assistance for individuals with disabilities | Form PC-2, Request for Accommodation, ADA notice and grievance forms. A request may be made at any time, with ten days' notice preferred and waivable in an emergency. | ctprobate.gov/assistance-individuals-disabilities-ada |
| Connecticut Probate Courts eFiling | Information about the statewide eFiling system under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 22.1, including Individual accounts for self-represented parties. | ctprobate.gov/efiling |
| CTLawHelp.org | Free legal information for Connecticut residents with low income, including a Legal Help Finder and topic guides. Its published topic list does not include decedents' estates. | ctlawhelp.org |
| Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut | Legal aid advice and referral for people with very low household income, with a hotline at 1-800-453-3320 and online application. Its published subject list does not name probate or decedents' estates. | slsct.org |
| Connecticut Free Legal Answers | Written answers to civil legal questions from volunteer Connecticut attorneys for people who qualify. Volunteers answer questions and do not represent anyone in court. | ct.freelegalanswers.org |
| CTProBono.org | Connecticut's pro bono portal, listed among the organizations behind CTLawHelp.org. | ctprobono.org |
| Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Library Services | Public law libraries and research guides, including a guide on Probate Appeals in Connecticut, which relates to the Superior Court side of C.G.S. section 45a-186 appeals. | jud.ct.gov/lawlib |
Probate Court staff can explain how the court works, provide general information about court rules, procedures and forms, provide user guides and forms, answer questions about filing deadlines, and help users find information on ctprobate.gov. Staff cannot give legal advice, tell you whether to bring a case, tell you what words to use in court papers, tell you what to say in court, talk to the judge for you, or say how the judge will rule.
When to hire an attorney
The Connecticut Probate Courts say estate matters can be complex and the advice of a lawyer is strongly recommended, while the statewide FAQ says a person is not generally required to be represented and should consider hiring an attorney if the case is contested or involves complex legal questions. Counsel is especially useful when the estate has solely owned real estate to sell, a contested matter where the rules of evidence apply, an insolvent estate or disputed creditor claim under C.G.S. section 45a-354 and related claims statutes, a Connecticut taxable estate above the $15 million 2026 exemption, a nonresident fiduciary, or a Superior Court appeal on the C.G.S. section 45a-186 thirty-day clock. Sunset connects the reader to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps in Connecticut
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for accounts, policies and holdings in the decedent's name, which matters in Connecticut because the choice between the C.G.S. section 45a-273 small estates procedure and full administration turns on what the decedent owned in sole name, and because the probate fee is computed under C.G.S. section 45a-107 on everything the decedent owned, including assets that pass outside probate.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the information a Connecticut filing needs, from the petition for administration or probate of a will through the inventory, the return of claims and the closing financial report, using the statewide numbered PC forms published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator.
Find a local probate attorney. Sunset connects families to vetted probate attorneys who practise in the probate district where the estate will be filed, which matters in a state whose own courts say the advice of a lawyer is strongly recommended for estate matters.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families move through estate settlement without charging them for the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Which court handles probate in Connecticut, and where do I file?
Connecticut probate is handled by a separate statewide system of 54 probate districts under C.G.S. section 45a-2, not by county. For a resident decedent with a will, file in the Probate Court for the district where the decedent was domiciled at death under C.G.S. section 45a-283. If the decedent died intestate, the district where the decedent was domiciled grants letters of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-303. For a nonresident who owned Connecticut property, use C.G.S. section 45a-287. The Court Locator at ctprobate.gov/court-locator identifies the court by town.
Who inherits in Connecticut when there is no will?
If a Connecticut decedent dies intestate, C.G.S. section 45a-303 controls the appointment process, and C.G.S. section 45a-437 and following control shares. If there is a spouse and children who are all also the spouse's children, the spouse takes the first $100,000 plus half the remainder, and the children take the other half under C.G.S. section 45a-437. If there is a spouse and at least one child who is not the spouse's child, the spouse takes half and the children share the other half. If there is a spouse and parents but no children, the spouse takes the first $100,000 plus three quarters of the remainder, and the parents take a quarter under C.G.S. section 45a-437. A spouse alone takes all; children alone take all; then the order moves to parents, siblings, next of kin, a stepchild, and finally the State of Connecticut.
How much does probate cost in Connecticut?
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 Probate Court matters except a decedent's estate and an accounting. The Probate Court instead sends an invoice later for the probate fee under C.G.S. section 45a-107. For deaths on or after July 1, 2016, the graduated fee runs from $25 to a cap of $40,000, with a $150 minimum when a full estate is opened on a basis under $10,000, and the spouse-passing portion is counted at half under C.G.S. section 45a-107. Fees are uniform in all districts under C.G.S. section 45a-105.
Does Connecticut have a small estate procedure?
Yes. Connecticut's small estates procedure is the affidavit in lieu of administration under C.G.S. section 45a-273. It uses form PC-212 and applies only when solely owned personal property does not exceed $40,000 and the decedent had no solely owned Connecticut real property. It is a Probate Court proceeding decided by decree, and the Connecticut estate tax return is still due within six months.
Does every Connecticut estate have to file an estate tax return?
Yes. Every Connecticut estate must file an estate tax return with the Probate Court within six months under C.G.S. section 12-392, whether or not an estate is opened. For deaths during 2026, a Connecticut taxable estate at or below $15 million uses CT-706 NT with the Probate Court. A taxable estate above $15 million for deaths during 2026 uses CT-706/709, files the original with the Department of Revenue Services, and files a complete copy with the Probate Court. The Connecticut estate tax threshold follows the federal basic exclusion amount under C.G.S. section 12-391.
Does Connecticut have an inheritance tax?
Connecticut has no inheritance tax. Beneficiaries do not pay a Connecticut tax on what they inherit. The former succession tax applies only to estates of decedents dying on or before January 1, 2005 under C.G.S. section 12-340.
How long does an executor have to file the inventory in Connecticut?
The fiduciary files the inventory, usually on form PC-2407, within two months after acceptance of the bond or other qualification. The Probate Court may extend the inventory deadline for cause to not more than four months from qualification under C.G.S. section 45a-341.
How long do creditors have to make a claim against a Connecticut estate?
The court places newspaper notice within 14 days after appointment of the first fiduciary under C.G.S. section 45a-354. Creditors have the 150-day period described in C.G.S. section 45a-356, but a late claim is not automatically barred by that period. The optional notice on form PC-234 can give a creditor not less than 90 days, and missing that deadline is barred under C.G.S. section 45a-357. The fiduciary files form PC-237 within 60 days after the 150-day period ends under C.G.S. section 45a-361.
Can I look up a Connecticut probate case online?
Yes. Connecticut publishes a free statewide Case Lookup at ctprobate.gov/case-lookup. It searches decedents' estates and trusts by name and probate district. Coverage runs from January 5, 2011 to the present, earlier data may be incomplete, and the tool shows index information and fiduciary contact information rather than filings or a docket.
Do I have to appear in person at a Connecticut probate hearing?
Not every estate requires a formal hearing. The court may enter a decree without a formal hearing if everyone entitled to notice files written waivers and the court does not believe a hearing is necessary, or it may use the streamline notice procedure under Probate Court Rules of Procedure, section 8.6. Connecticut Probate Courts may also allow participation by electronic means on request under section 66.1, but that is a decision for the court and not a right.
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.