Connecticut Probate Guide
If you've just lost someone and are facing the Connecticut probate process — this guide walks you through what it costs, how long it takes, the exact filings Connecticut requires, and whether you can avoid formal probate entirely.
Typical Timeline
6–12 months
Uncontested formal probate
Small Estate Threshold
$40,000
Affidavit in Lieu of Probate (Form PC-212)
Court
Probate Court
Filing fee: $25–$40,000
Executor Commission
Reasonable fee
~$30,000 on a $1M estate
Full probate is required for estates above $40,000 or that include solely-titled real estate. Assets passing outside probate include joint tenancy with survivorship, POD/TOD accounts, life insurance and retirement plans with named beneficiaries, and trust assets.
Connecticut's 150-day creditor claim period (from the fiduciary's appointment) is the principal bottleneck; most estates close in 6–12 months, with the Connecticut estate tax return adding time for larger estates.
Connecticut's Affidavit in Lieu of Probate (Form PC-212) allows qualifying estates to skip formal probate.
Current threshold: $40,000
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-273, an estate of $40,000 or less in personal property (no real estate, except jointly held with survivorship) qualifies. Surviving spouse has filing priority, then next of kin; the court cannot act on the affidavit for at least 30 days after filing.
Connecticut sets no statutory fee schedule — fiduciaries are entitled to 'reasonable compensation,' subject to probate court approval. Courts commonly review fees in the 2–4% range against time, complexity and results.
Example: An estate valued at $1,000,000 would yield an executor commission of approximately $30,000.
Attorney fees:
Attorney fees are negotiated (usually hourly) and reviewed by the probate court for reasonableness; there is no statutory schedule.
Multiple co-executors:
Co-fiduciaries each receive reasonable compensation; total may not exceed what would be reasonable for the estate as a whole.
Statute: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-294
Bond is required when the will is silent and beneficiaries do not waive it, or when the personal representative is a non-resident. The court has discretion to require bond in any case.
Statute: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-289
Connecticut has a state estate tax with a $15 million exemption for 2026 (matching the federal exemption under the OBBBA). A flat 12% rate applies to the portion of the estate above the exemption. Example: An estate of $15.5M would owe 12% on the $500,000 above the exemption = $60,000 in Connecticut estate tax (in addition to any federal estate tax).
Filing deadline:
Form CT-706 NT (if not subject to tax) or CT-706/709 (if subject to tax) is due 6 months after the date of death. Extensions are available.
Statute: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391 et seq.
Connecticut is a separate-property state. The surviving spouse may elect a 'statutory share' — a life use of one-third of all property passing under the will, real and personal, after payment of debts (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-436). The election must be filed within 150 days after the mailing of the decree admitting the will to probate.
Connecticut's Medicaid program (administered by the Department of Social Services) recovers benefits paid to recipients age 55 or older from the probate estate. Recovery is limited to probate assets; the state may also recover from estates of any age where Medicaid was incorrectly paid. Liens may be placed during life on real property of permanently institutionalized recipients.
The full Connecticut executor checklist has 24 milestones: 17 specific to Connecticut law (shown below — filings, forms, and court interactions tied to Connecticut statutes) and 7 universal duties that apply in every state (expandable at the end of the list). The same item never appears in both groups.
Obtain certified death certificates
Order at least 10-12 certified copies of the death certificate from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, or the town registrar of vital statistics. These are required by the probate court, financial institutions, insurance companies, and government agencies.
Locate and review the will
Search for the decedent's original will and any codicils. Connecticut has a unique probate court system with individual probate courts in each of its probate districts (consolidated from the original 169 towns). Any person in possession of a will must file it with the probate court in the district where the decedent resided within 30 days of death.
File petition for probate with the probate court
File a Petition for Probate and appointment of fiduciary with the probate court in the district where the decedent was domiciled. Connecticut probate courts have exclusive jurisdiction over estate administration. For qualifying small estates (see the threshold section above), a simplified voluntary administration procedure is available under CGS Section 45a-273.
Receive fiduciary appointment (Letters Testamentary or Administration)
After the probate court admits the will and appoints the fiduciary (Connecticut's term for executor/administrator), a Certificate of Appointment is issued. The fiduciary must post a probate bond unless waived by the will or all beneficiaries. Obtain multiple certified copies of the Certificate for use with financial institutions.
Publish notice to creditors
Publish a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation in the probate district, as directed by the probate court. Under CGS Section 45a-395, creditors must present their claims within the time specified by the court, typically three months from the date of the order. The fiduciary must also send notice to all known or reasonably ascertainable creditors.
Open an estate bank account
Obtain an EIN from the IRS using Form SS-4 and open a checking account in the name of the estate. All estate income and expense payments should flow through this account. Connecticut probate courts require detailed financial accounting.
File IRS Form 56 (Notice of Fiduciary Relationship)
File IRS Form 56 to notify the IRS that you are acting as the fiduciary (executor or administrator) for the decedent's estate. This establishes your authority to receive the decedent's tax information, file returns on their behalf, and correspond with the IRS regarding estate matters. File this form promptly after receiving Letters.
File inventory with the probate court
Prepare and file an inventory of all estate assets with the probate court within two months of appointment, as required by CGS Section 45a-341. The inventory must include all real and personal property with date-of-death fair market values. The probate court may appoint appraisers or the fiduciary may engage qualified independent appraisers.
Handle digital assets and online accounts
Identify and secure the decedent's digital assets, including email accounts, social media profiles, cloud storage, cryptocurrency wallets, online banking, and digital subscriptions. Most states have adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), which governs fiduciary access to digital accounts. Check the decedent's devices, password managers, and records for account credentials. Contact service providers to memorialize or close accounts as appropriate.
File final personal income tax return (Form 1040 and Connecticut Form CT-1040)
File the decedent's final federal income tax return (Form 1040) and Connecticut individual income tax return (Form CT-1040) for the period from January 1 through the date of death. Connecticut imposes a graduated income tax. A surviving spouse may file jointly for the year of death.
File estate income tax return (Form 1041 and Connecticut Form CT-1041) if applicable
If the estate earns more than $600 in gross income during the administration period, file federal Form 1041 and Connecticut Fiduciary Income Tax Return (Form CT-1041). Connecticut taxes fiduciary income at applicable state rates.
File Connecticut estate tax return (Form CT-706/709) if applicable
Connecticut imposes its own estate tax — see the Connecticut estate tax section above for the current exemption (aligned with the federal amount). File Connecticut Form CT-706/709 within six months of death if the estate exceeds the Connecticut exclusion amount. Also file federal Form 706 if the gross estate exceeds the federal exemption. Connecticut is one of only a few states with both an estate tax and a gift tax.
Review and pay valid creditor claims
Evaluate all creditor claims filed within the claims period set by the probate court. Pay valid claims from estate funds in the order of priority established by Connecticut law: costs of administration, funeral expenses, taxes, debts due the state, and all other claims.
Distribute residuary estate to beneficiaries
After all debts, taxes, expenses, and specific bequests have been satisfied, distribute the remaining estate assets to the residuary beneficiaries as directed by the will or Connecticut intestacy law (CGS Section 45a-437). Connecticut provides the surviving spouse a statutory share and the right to use the family residence for a period. Obtain signed receipts from all beneficiaries.
File final accounting with the probate court
File a final accounting (also called a financial report) with the probate court detailing all estate receipts, disbursements, and distributions, as required by CGS Section 45a-175. The probate court will review the accounting and schedule a hearing if necessary. All interested parties receive notice and may file objections.
Obtain probate court approval and close the estate
After the probate court approves the final accounting and authorizes distributions, the court issues a decree settling the estate and releasing the fiduciary from further liability. The estate is officially closed upon entry of the decree.
Close the estate bank account
After all distributions are complete and the court has issued its closing decree, close the estate bank account. Verify all checks have cleared and the balance is zero. Retain all financial records for at least six years for Connecticut tax audit purposes.
Secure estate property and valuables
Immediately secure the decedent's residence by changing locks if necessary. Safeguard valuables such as jewelry, cash, important documents, firearms, and collectibles. If the home will be vacant, arrange for regular checks, maintain climate control, and notify the homeowner's insurance carrier of the vacancy. Secure vehicles, safe deposit boxes, and storage units. Document the condition of all property with photographs.
Notify the Social Security Administration
Report the death to the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 if the funeral home has not already done so. Benefits received after the date of death must be returned. Surviving spouses and dependent children may be eligible for survivor benefits.
Cancel services, subscriptions, and forward mail
Forward the decedent's mail through USPS to the executor's address or a secure location to capture bills, tax documents, and creditor correspondence. Cancel or transfer utilities (electric, gas, water, internet, phone), streaming services, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, and other recurring payments. Notify the landlord if the decedent rented. Cancel the decedent's driver's license, voter registration, and passport to help prevent identity theft.
Notify financial institutions
Send certified copies of the death certificate and Certificate of Appointment to all banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies, and retirement account custodians. Request date-of-death valuations for all accounts.
Maintain insurance and pay ongoing estate expenses
Review and maintain all insurance policies on estate property, including homeowner's insurance, auto insurance, and any umbrella liability coverage. Lapsed coverage during administration can expose the estate to significant liability. Continue paying ongoing obligations from the estate bank account: mortgage or rent, property taxes, HOA fees, storage unit fees, and essential maintenance. Keep detailed records of all payments for the final accounting.
File claims against life insurance and benefits policies
File claims on all life insurance policies, accidental death policies, and any other insurance or death benefits payable to the estate or named beneficiaries. Provide certified death certificates and completed claim forms to each insurance carrier. Note that policies with named beneficiaries generally pass outside of probate directly to the beneficiary, but proceeds payable to the estate must be inventoried.
Distribute specific bequests
Distribute any specific gifts or bequests identified in the will, such as jewelry, heirlooms, specific dollar amounts, or particular assets to named beneficiaries. Obtain signed receipts from each beneficiary. Ensure adequate reserves are maintained for taxes, administration costs, and any pending creditor claims before making distributions.
Out-of-state decedents owning Connecticut real property require ancillary probate in the Connecticut probate district where the real property is located, with authenticated copies of foreign letters.
Most estates take 6 to 12 months. The 150-day creditor claim period (from the fiduciary's appointment) drives the floor, and Connecticut estate tax filings add time for estates above $15 million.
Statutory probate fees are graduated by estate value — from $25 for a tiny estate to a maximum of $40,000 for very large estates (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-107). Fiduciary and attorney fees are 'reasonable' and subject to court approval, typically 2–4% combined.
$40,000 or less in personal property (no real estate). The Affidavit in Lieu of Probate (Form PC-212) under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-273 lets surviving spouse or next of kin collect without full probate.
Attorneys are not legally required, but most fiduciaries hire one given Connecticut's statutory fee structure, estate tax filings, and the procedural complexity of the 54-district probate system.
Yes — revocable living trusts, joint tenancy with right of survivorship, POD/TOD accounts all bypass probate.
Within 30 days of learning of the testator's death, the custodian must deliver the will to the named executor or to the probate court (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-282). Willful failure can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to one year imprisonment.
Yes. Connecticut has a state estate tax with a $15 million exemption for 2026 — matching the federal exemption under the OBBBA. The rate is a flat 12% on the portion of the estate above the exemption. Connecticut does not allow portability between spouses.
No. Connecticut has not enacted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act. The 2025 attempt (HB 6896) did not pass; HB 5266 was introduced in February 2026 but remains pending. To avoid probate on Connecticut real estate, owners typically use a revocable living trust, joint tenancy with right of survivorship, or a life-estate deed.
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This page is informational, not legal advice. Probate rules, thresholds, fees, and tax exemptions change. For your specific situation, consult a licensed Connecticut probate attorney.