The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Connecticut with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Connecticut reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Connecticut probate pages.
Connecticut probate fees
| Item | Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | The probate court fee for settling a decedent's estate is a sliding scale under Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-107. For decedents dying on or after July 1, 2016: $0–$500 = $25; $500–$1,000 = $50; $1,000–$10,000 = $50 plus 1% of the excess over $1,000; $10,000–$500,000 = $150 plus 0.35% of the excess over $10,000; $500,000–$2,000,000 = $1,865 plus 0.25% of the excess over $500,000; $2,000,000 and over = $5,615 plus 0.5% of the excess over $2,000,000. Maximum fee: $40,000. Interest of 0.5% per month accrues on fees unpaid after 30 days. |
| Attorney fees | Connecticut does not set attorney fees by a statutory percentage. Attorneys charge by the hour or a negotiated flat fee, and the fee must be reasonable. Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-107(e) gives the Probate Court authority to review and adjust the fees and expenses of attorneys and fiduciaries for reasonableness. Typical attorney cost for a routine estate runs from a few thousand dollars to low five figures depending on complexity. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | Connecticut has no fixed statutory percentage for executor/administrator (fiduciary) compensation. Fiduciaries are entitled to 'reasonable' compensation, and the Probate Court reviews fiduciary fees for reasonableness under Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-107(e). There is no California-style tiered commission schedule. |
| Fee basis | reasonable |
| Appraisal / referee | Connecticut does not use a separate state-appointed probate referee the way California does. The fiduciary files an inventory valuing estate assets; real estate is generally reported at fair market value (often supported by an appraisal or assessed value), and the Probate Court reviews the inventory. |
Worked example
On a $500,000 Connecticut estate, a fiduciary fee in the range of about 3–4% ($15,000–$20,000) would commonly be viewed as reasonable, but the probate court reviews each case and can allow more or less depending on the work actually done.
Connecticut thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Under Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-273, a small estate can be settled without full probate by filing an affidavit (PC-212) if the decedent's solely owned personal property — excluding assets passing outside probate by operation of law — does not exceed $40,000 and the decedent owned no solely owned real property in Connecticut at death. |
| Creditor claim period | Creditors generally have 150 days from the date the first fiduciary is appointed to present claims; under Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-356, a fiduciary who pays or distributes in good faith is not chargeable for claims presented after the 150-day period. |
| Typical duration | A routine Connecticut estate typically takes 6 to 12 months. The statutory creditor-claim window is 150 days from appointment of the first fiduciary, the fiduciary then has 60 days to file a return and list of claims, and Connecticut estate/succession-tax clearance must be completed before final distribution — so contested or taxable estates can run a year or more. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Connecticut does NOT have a statutory transfer-on-death (TOD) or beneficiary deed for real estate. A 2025 bill to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act (HB 6896) died in committee. To pass real estate outside probate, Connecticut owners use a revocable living trust or joint ownership with right of survivorship. TOD/POD beneficiary designations remain available for financial accounts and securities, just not for real estate deeds. |
What passes outside Connecticut probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — Connecticut does NOT have a statutory transfer-on-death (TOD) or beneficiary deed for real estate. A 2025 bill to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act (HB 6896) died in committee. To pass real estate outside probate, Connecticut owners use a revocable living trust or joint ownership with right of survivorship. TOD/POD beneficiary designations remain available for financial accounts and securities, just not for real estate deeds.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-107; Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-106a; Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-273; Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-356; Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-354; Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-361
- State authority: Connecticut Probate Courts (ctprobate.gov)
- Court filing fees: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_801b.htm
- Fee basis: https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-45a/chapter-801b/section-45a-107/
- Court fee calculator: https://www.ctprobate.gov/fees-expenses-calculators
- Small-estate procedure: https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-45a/chapter-802b/section-45a-273-formerly-sec-45-266/
- Creditor claim period: https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-45a/chapter-802b/section-45a-356-formerly-sec-45-230e/
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Connecticut court before relying on it.
The full Connecticut guides
-
How Much Does Probate Cost in Connecticut? — the full cost breakdown.
-
How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Connecticut? — the fee rule in detail.
-
How Long Does Probate Take in Connecticut? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
-
How to Avoid Probate in Connecticut — the transfers that pass outside it.
-
How Much Does a Will Cost in Connecticut? — execution requirements and pricing.
Fee sheets for other states
California · Texas · Florida · New York · Pennsylvania · Illinois · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · Arkansas · Indiana · Oklahoma · Oregon · New Jersey · Washington · Arizona · Colorado · Massachusetts · Maryland · Minnesota · Missouri · Alabama · Alaska · Delaware · Hawaii · Idaho · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Mississippi · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Mexico · North Dakota · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
This sheet sets out Connecticut probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Connecticut courts or a licensed Connecticut attorney.