Connecticut Probate Cost Calculator & Fee Guide

Q: How long does probate take in Connecticut?

Most Connecticut estates take 6 to 12 months, driven by the 150-day creditor claim period and the estate-tax return.

How probate costs work in Connecticut

Connecticut is unusual: instead of a flat filing fee, it charges one statewide Probate Court fee scaled to the size of the estate, set by statute and applied the same way in all of the state's probate districts — Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Bridgeport, Greenwich and the rest. That fee is the centerpiece of the cost, it's capped at $40,000, and it's separate from the professional fees an estate pays.

1. The Probate Court fee — statutory sliding scale

C.G.S. § 45a-107 (deaths on/after July 1, 2016): $25 up to $500; $50 to $1,000; then $50 + 1% over $1,000; $150 + 0.35% over $10,000; $1,865 + 0.25% over $500,000; $5,615 + 0.5% over $2,000,000; and a flat $40,000 above $8,877,000. Minimum $150 if a full estate is opened on a basis under $10,000.

So a $500,000 estate pays $1,865; $1,000,000 pays $3,115; $2,000,000 pays $5,615. The basis is the greatest of the inventory, the gross estate for estate-tax purposes, or the Connecticut taxable estate — so it can reach non-probate assets like survivorship accounts, POD registrations and life insurance. Any portion of the basis passing to a surviving spouse is reduced by 50%.

2. Fiduciary & attorney fees — reasonable, not a fixed percentage

No statutory percentage: Connecticut fiduciary (executor) and attorney fees are reasonable compensation approved by the court under Probate Court Rule 39 and the Hayward v. Plant factors — not a set percentage of the estate. Any figure here is an illustrative estimate, not a statutory amount.

In practice, Connecticut practitioners often quote professional fees in the range of roughly 2–5% of the estate, depending on complexity. Family fiduciaries frequently waive their fee, since it's taxable income while an inheritance is not.

3. Estate tax — only above $15 million

C.G.S. § 12-391: for 2026 deaths the Connecticut estate-tax exemption is $15 million (matching the federal exclusion), with a flat 12% rate above it. There is no inheritance tax. But every resident estate must still file a Connecticut estate-tax return with the Probate Court — Form CT-706 NT for nontaxable estates — within six months of death, even when no tax is owed.

4. Other costs

Fiduciary bond — may be required unless the will or the court excuses it (§ 45a-289).
Newspaper / notice, certified copies, recording — small additional costs.
Appraisal — if real estate or a business must be valued.

5. When probate can be simplified in Connecticut

Small estate affidavit (C.G.S. § 45a-273) — solely owned personal property of $40,000 or less, with no solely owned Connecticut real estate.
Living trust, joint tenancy, POD/TOD — keep assets out of probate (though some still count toward the fee basis).

Cost component	Connecticut figure	Source
Probate Court fee	Sliding scale, $25 – $40,000 cap	§ 45a-107
Fiduciary fee	Reasonable; court-approved (no set %)	Rule 39
Attorney fee	Reasonable; court-approved (no set %)	Rule 39
Small estate affidavit	$40,000 personal property	§ 45a-273
Estate tax	None below $15M; 12% above	§ 12-391
Inheritance tax	None	—

Connecticut probate cost — frequently asked questions

Is the Connecticut probate fee really $250?

No — that's a common mix-up. The $250 flat fee comes from C.G.S. 45a-106a, which covers filings in matters other than a decedent's estate (conservatorships, guardianships, trusts). A decedent's estate pays the value-based sliding scale in 45a-107 instead, invoiced by the court after the estate values are set. On a $500,000 estate that's $1,865, not $250.

Does the fee include assets that avoid probate?

Often yes — this is the biggest Connecticut surprise. The fee basis is the greatest of the inventory, the gross estate for estate-tax purposes, or the Connecticut taxable estate, so survivorship accounts, POD/TOD registrations, life insurance and beneficiary-designated retirement accounts can all count toward the basis even though they never pass through the Probate Court.

How does the surviving-spouse reduction work?

Any portion of the fee basis that passes to a surviving spouse is reduced by 50% under 45a-107. Halving that portion can even drop the estate into a lower bracket, so an estimate that ignores it will over-quote most married decedents. Enter the amount passing to your spouse above to see the effect.

Do I have to file an estate-tax return if no tax is due?

Yes. Connecticut requires an estate-tax return from every resident decedent's estate, even when it's well below the $15 million exemption and owes nothing. Nontaxable estates file Form CT-706 NT with the Probate Court within six months of death; taxable estates file CT-706/709 with the Department of Revenue Services.

How long does probate take in Connecticut?

Most Connecticut estates take 6–12 months, driven by the 150-day creditor claim period and the estate-tax return.

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Connecticut's Probate Court fee is set by statute (C.G.S. § 45a-107: a sliding scale from $25 to a $40,000 cap, on a basis that can include non-probate assets, with a 50% reduction for property passing to a surviving spouse). Fiduciary and attorney fees are reasonable, court-approved amounts with no statutory percentage — any professional-fee figure shown here is illustrative. The estate-tax exemption is $15 million for 2026 (§ 12-391); there is no inheritance tax. The small estate affidavit limit is $40,000 (§ 45a-273). Confirm current figures with the Probate Court or a licensed Connecticut attorney before acting.