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Docket No. 09170 · Connecticut

South Central Connecticut Planning Region County
Probate Court

In Connecticut, estates are probated in the Probate Court (54 Regional Probate Court Districts). This page gathers where to file in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, the state rules that apply, and where every detail comes from.

Directions ↗
County seat
New Haven
Population
568,158
Court
Probate Court
Record
County links
CT · 0917041°17′ N · 72°50′ W
Boundary redrawn after 2020 — outline not available
Courthouse not yet mapped in OpenStreetMap
Small-estate limit
$40,000
Wait 30 days after death
Creditor window
150 days
Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 45a-354 to 45a-357
Executor fee
Reasonable
Reasonable fee set by the court
Death taxes
Yes
Estate tax over $15 million
§ I

Where to file in South Central Connecticut Planning Region

Handled by
Probate Court (54 Regional Probate Court Districts)Connecticut operates 54 regional Probate Courts serving 169 towns. Probate judges oversee wills, decedents' estates, conservatorships, and trust administration.
Location
Probate filings are made in the county seat, New Haven. We have not found an open, verifiable address for the office yet — use the county website below.
Phone
No phone number published in an open source. Use the county website's contact page — we don't list numbers we can't source.
Opening hours
Not published in an open source. Check the court or county website before you go.
State courts & e-filing
ctprobate.govCase search: Connecticut Probate Court Case Search (TurboCourt / CT Probate Portal)
§ II

How probate runs in South Central Connecticut Planning Region

Six stages, with the Connecticut rules that set the pace.

  1. 01

    Secure the original will

    Find the original signed will and order certified death certificates. Connecticut deadline: Custodian must deliver will to Probate Court forthwith after learning of death; penalties if not delivered within 30 days (C.G.S. § 45a-282).

  2. 02

    Pick the right track

    If the probate estate is under $40,000, a small-estate procedure (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-273) may avoid full administration.

  3. 03

    Petition the court

    File the petition with the Probate Court (54 Regional Probate Court Districts) for South Central Connecticut Planning Region. The court appoints the executor or administrator and issues letters.

  4. 04

    Inventory the estate

    Open an estate bank account (the IRS issues the EIN), list assets at date-of-death values and file the inventory if the court requires it.

  5. 05

    Notify creditors

    Publish or send notice to creditors. Window: Claims should be presented within 150 days from the appointment of the first fiduciary; fiduciary not personally liable for late claims.

  6. 06

    Account and distribute

    Pay debts, taxes and fees (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-364), file the final account if required, distribute to heirs and ask to close the estate.

Need help with an estate in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut?

Where to get help.

We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.

  1. 01 Connecticut courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
  2. 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
  3. 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
§ III

Connecticut rules that apply here

Probate law is state law — these apply in all 9 Connecticut counties.

Small estates
$40,000 solely owned personal property (C.G.S. § 45a-273); filed with Probate Court; decree not issued until 30 days after affidavit copy sent to Dept. of Administrative ServicesConn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-273 · wait 30 days
Filing the will
Custodian must deliver will to Probate Court forthwith after learning of death; penalties if not delivered within 30 days (C.G.S. § 45a-282)
Creditor claims
Claims should be presented within 150 days from the appointment of the first fiduciary; fiduciary not personally liable for late claimsConn. Gen. Stat. §§ 45a-354 to 45a-357
Executor fees
Reasonable compensation approved by the Probate Court; fees generally range from 2% to 4% depending on estate sizeConn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-364 · estimate the fee
Handwritten wills
Not recognized without witnesses. Connecticut does NOT recognize unwitnessed holographic wills executed in CT; requires two attesting witnesses.
Estate tax
Yes — exemption $15 million.Connecticut estate tax exemption is $15 million for 2026 decedents (tracks federal basic exclusion); 12% flat rate on excess; CT also has a gift tax.
Inheritance tax
No.Connecticut repealed its succession tax.
Typical duration
6 to 12 monthsA lawyer is not required by statute, though most formal estates use one.

Rules re-checked Sept 2026 against: portal.ct.gov · cga.ct.gov · cohenandwolf.com

Related officeSouth Central Connecticut Planning Region Clerk & RecorderDeath certificates, recorded deeds and marriage records for the estate file.uscountyclerks.com ↗ Related officeSouth Central Connecticut Planning Region Property AppraiserAssessed values and parcel records for the estate inventory.uspropertyappraisers.com ↗
§ V

Questions about South Central Connecticut Planning Region probate

Where is the South Central Connecticut Planning Region Probate Court located?
In Connecticut, probate is handled by the Probate Court (54 Regional Probate Court Districts). Probate filings in South Central Connecticut Planning Region are normally made in the county seat, New Haven. Confirm the exact office on the official county website.
What is the small estate affidavit limit in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT?
Small-estate rules are set by state law, so they are the same in every Connecticut county: $40,000 solely owned personal property (C.G.S. § 45a-273); filed with Probate Court; decree not issued until 30 days after affidavit copy sent to Dept. of Administrative Services (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-273). The waiting period is 30 days.
How do I search probate case records in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
Start with the Connecticut judiciary website (ctprobate.gov), which points to Connecticut Probate Court Case Search (TurboCourt / CT Probate Portal). Older files and certified copies are requested from the probate clerk in New Haven.
What are the deadlines for filing a will and creditor claims in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
Will: Custodian must deliver will to Probate Court forthwith after learning of death; penalties if not delivered within 30 days (C.G.S. § 45a-282). Creditors: Claims should be presented within 150 days from the appointment of the first fiduciary; fiduciary not personally liable for late claims (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 45a-354 to 45a-357).
How much can an executor charge in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
Connecticut rule: Reasonable compensation approved by the Probate Court; fees generally range from 2% to 4% depending on estate size (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-364). You can estimate the amount with our executor fee calculator.