State probate guide · Connecticut
How probate works in Connecticut.
Connecticut Probate Courts oversee the admission of wills, appointment of estate representatives, creditor matters, accountings, and distribution. The court serving the decedent’s town generally handles the estate.
The administration process
From appointment to distribution.
- 01
Apply to the Probate Court
The will and petition, or an intestate-estate application, are filed with the appropriate local Probate Court.
- 02
Obtain appointment
After required notice and court review, the estate representative receives authority to act for the estate.
- 03
File the inventory
The estate representative identifies and values probate property and files the required inventory with the court.
- 04
Address claims and taxes
Creditors are notified, claims are evaluated, and estate expenses and tax obligations are handled.
- 05
Account, distribute, and close
The estate representative files an account or financial report, requests approval, and distributes the remaining estate.
Estate representative compensation
Connecticut does not use one statewide percentage schedule.
An estate representative generally requests compensation that is reasonable for the actual administration. The Probate Court may review the fee as part of the estate account rather than applying Oregon- or New York-style statutory tiers.
Reviewed in the context of the work performed and the estate being administered.
- Time spent, the estate’s size and complexity, the responsibility assumed, and the results of the administration may affect reasonableness.
- A fee agreement or local guideline may help frame the request, but it does not replace Probate Court review.
- Court charges are separate from estate representative compensation and are calculated under Connecticut’s statutory probate-fee system.
Official references
Read the source material.
This page is a general educational overview, not legal advice or a fee quote. Court procedure, compensation, deadlines, and available options depend on the estate, governing documents, applicable law, and court approval.