Elder law attorneys in Connecticut work the legal issues facing aging adults and their families: Medicaid planning for long-term care, drafting and updating durable powers of attorney and healthcare directives, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, special needs trusts, and asset protection. Many also handle probate and estate planning; elder law is the subset focused on care planning and benefits eligibility. The Connecticut healthcare proxy and financial power of attorney forms cover the two instruments.
Federal law, as Connecticut applies it, sets a 5-year lookback period for Medicaid long-term care eligibility. An uncompensated transfer in the five years before the application (a gift, a transfer to a family member, a transfer to a trust that does not qualify) can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid does not pay for nursing home care. It is why Medicaid planning starts years before the care is needed, and why elder law exists as its own practice area.
Estate planning attorneys in Connecticut average $388Clio Compare Lawyer Rates, Connecticut: Wills and Estates rate (2025 data)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source an hour for wills and estates work. A flat-fee package runs $1,164Estimate: 3 hours at $388, Clio's Connecticut Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,328Estimate: 6 hours at $388, Clio's Connecticut Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for a simple individual will and $4,460Estimate: 10 hours at $446, Clio's Connecticut Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,690Estimate: 15 hours at $446, Clio's Connecticut Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for a basic revocable trust. An online service prices the same documents in the tens to low hundreds of dollars; the Connecticut will cost calculator sets the two side by side.
In Connecticut, estates with personal property of $40,000C.G.S. § 45a-273Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less use the Small Estate Affidavit (Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration, PC-212)C.G.S. § 45a-273Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysC.G.S. § 45a-273Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, a court filing short of full probate. That route is a form rather than a court case, and most families handle it without an attorney. Above the line, formal probate generally benefits from counsel for the procedural work, even when nothing is contested. The Connecticut probate calculator estimates the cost by estate value.
In Connecticut, the situations where counsel is typically worth the cost are: a blended family with children from a prior relationship; a business, rental property or significant investment assets; a dependent with special needs, who needs a special-needs trust to keep benefits; an estate near or above the Connecticut estate taxConn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source threshold of $15,000,000Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; substantial property in more than one state. Where none of these apply, an online or self-help document is often enough.
Free Connecticut forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Connecticut requires 2CGS § 19a-575aVerified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredCGS § 19a-575aVerified Oct 15, 2026View source.
Connecticut treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultConn. Gen. Stat. §§ 1-1d, 1-350c, 1-350d, 1-350e, 1-350f, 1-350h, 1-350i, 1-350k, 1-350l, 1-350r, 1-351, 1-352, 1-362, 1-365; § 47-10Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 1-1d, 1-350c, 1-350d, 1-350e, 1-350f, 1-350h, 1-350i, 1-350k, 1-350l, 1-350r, 1-351, 1-352, 1-362, 1-365; § 47-10Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witnesses.
In Connecticut, a will is signed before 2Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-251Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyConn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-251Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Connecticut: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Connecticut runs $4,460Estimate: 10 hours at $446, Clio's Connecticut Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,690Estimate: 15 hours at $446, Clio's Connecticut Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,164Estimate: 3 hours at $388, Clio's Connecticut Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,328Estimate: 6 hours at $388, Clio's Connecticut Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
In Connecticut, four years at a public university cost about $120,184NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is near the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; the state levies an estate taxConn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $15,000,000Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Connecticut costs an estimated $29,174CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors); C.G.S. § 45a-294 (will contest expenses only)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 12 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors); C.G.S. § 45a-294 (will contest expenses only): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors); C.G.S. § 45a-294 (will contest expenses only): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $40,000C.G.S. § 45a-273Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
Probate in Connecticut takes 6 months to 12 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors); C.G.S. § 45a-294 (will contest expenses only): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors); C.G.S. § 45a-294 (will contest expenses only): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
Connecticut does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceConn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-257cVerified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
57 elder law firms in Connecticut, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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57 firms
FirmBristol, CT
Bristol elder law firm with a probate team of attorneys and paralegals serving families across Connecticut. Settles estates through probate, including defending a will that is contested, and handles Medicaid planning, special needs trusts, and veterans benefits.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 4 more
Solo PracticeWallingford, CT
Wallingford practice serving clients in and around the Wallingford area. Helps executors, administrators, trustees, and conservators carry out their duties, and has served hundreds of times as a fiduciary under court orders or trust designations. Also handles will contests, probate appeals, trust disputes, and Title 19 applications.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more
Solo PracticeGlastonbury, CT
Estate and probate practice meeting clients by appointment in Glastonbury and West Hartford. Guides families through Connecticut probate administration with an experienced paralegal handling the court paperwork, and does not base probate fees on a percentage of the estate. Attorney Steven Basche also handles will contests and undue-influence claims, and offers Zoom and phone consultations.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 3 more
Solo PracticeMarlborough, CT
Marlborough solo practice handling probate administration, conservatorships, and Medicaid (Title 19) applications, along with wills, trusts, and special needs trusts. Attorney Bulkovitch is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association Elder Law Executive Committee, and evening and weekend appointments are available.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipand 5 more
Solo PracticeMiddletown, CT
Middletown solo practice of Attorney Elizabeth Byrne, licensed in Connecticut since 1985 and a long-time NAELA member. Guides family members after a death through short-form probate, formal probate, and trust settlement, from setting up estate and trust accounts to final distribution. Also submits Medicaid applications and prepares Florida documents for clients who winter there.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
FirmNew London, CT
New London elder law and trusts and estates firm with a second office in Woodbury, practicing in the New London area since 1986. Represents executors and trustees from the probate application through the final accounting, represents beneficiaries when the fiduciary has another attorney, and litigates contested wills and trusts. The first meeting is a paid one-hour consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more
FirmOld Saybrook, CT
Old Saybrook general practice firm, tracing its roots to 1966, serving Middlesex, New London, Hartford, and New Haven counties along the Connecticut shoreline. Administers probate estates, handles guardianships, conservatorships, and probate appeals, and pursues will and trust contests in probate court for beneficiaries. Offers a free consultation, and staff speak Spanish.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 8 more
FirmNew Milford, CT
New Milford firm with offices in Litchfield, Danbury, and Ridgefield, whose practice traces to a Civil War-era Litchfield law office. Assists executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries with their duties and probate court procedure, and its probate litigators bring or defend will contests, accounting challenges, probate appeals, and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more
FirmSouth Windsor, CT
Serves Hartford County from a general practice office on Ellington Road in South Windsor, founded in 1948. Represents fiduciaries settling an estate in probate court and administers trusts, guardianships and conservatorships, alongside wills, trusts and Title 19 Medicaid planning. Offers a free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
FirmBridgeport, CT
Serves Fairfield County from offices in Bridgeport, Westport, Danbury and Trumbull, with a fifth office in Hartford; founded in 1951. Its Trusts & Estates Group handles estate and trust administration, conservatorships and guardianships, and its Probate Litigation Group takes will and trust contests, objections to accountings, fiduciary removal proceedings and probate appeals.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more
FirmNew London, CT
Serves New London, Middlesex and Windham counties from New London, in practice since 1962. Its estate department guides executors and administrators from the first probate court filing through distribution and the final accounting, handles will contests, estate accounting disputes and fiduciary removal proceedings, and administers conservatorships. Offers a free initial consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 5 more
FirmDanbury, CT
Danbury firm established in 1963, serving Danbury, Ridgefield, New Milford, Bethel and the surrounding area. Assists executors and administrators with probating a will, notifying creditors and heirs, filing tax returns, distributing property and ancillary probate in other states, and represents heirs and beneficiaries in will challenges and actions to remove a trustee, executor or administrator.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 11 more
FirmBerlin, CT
Serves all of Connecticut from five offices including Berlin and Simsbury; formerly Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri. Takes executors through probate from the application through the inventory, claims, estate tax returns and final accounting, administers special needs trusts as trustee, and handles will contests, removal of a personal representative, conservatorship disputes and creditor claims.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
FirmManchester, CT
Manchester firm in practice since 1932, serving central and eastern Connecticut. Inventories estate assets and debts, settles debts, prepares tax returns and distributes assets for executors and trustees, and represents beneficiaries in will and trust contests and challenges to an executor or trustee. Offers a free case evaluation to new clients; Spanish translation available.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 9 more
Solo PracticeMilford, CT
Serves New Haven County from offices in Milford, a short walk from the Milford-Orange Probate Court, and Cheshire. Attorney John Drapp handles decedents estates in all three Connecticut forms (full, affidavit and tax-purposes-only) and most other probate court matters except children's matters, and will serve as executor or trustee when a nominated fiduciary asks.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Law
FirmNew Britain, CT
Serves clients across Connecticut from offices in New Britain and Avon. Handles probate administration for executors, from gathering and valuing assets to paying debts and taxes, and probate disputes including will contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, fiduciary removal and conservatorships. A firm trust committee reviews trust administration questions; Medicaid applications handled in-house.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 8 more
Solo PracticeHartford, CT
Serves families across Connecticut from an office on the Hartford-West Hartford line. Guides executors through Connecticut probate, from the application and inventory to the final accounting, and handles trust administration, Title 19 applications, conservatorships and VA benefits. Planning work is billed at flat fees.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
FirmWallingford, CT
Family-owned Wallingford firm founded in 1967, serving central Connecticut. Opens full probate estates, files affidavits in lieu of administration for smaller estates and handles tax-purposes-only filings for jointly owned property, with probate paralegals on staff. Also handles Title 19 applications, conservatorships and special needs trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipand 6 more
FirmManchester, CT
Manchester firm serving the greater Hartford area east of the river. For executors, drafts and files the application for probate, transfers accounts to the estate, deals with creditor claims and prepares the final accounting and tax returns; also handles will contests, conservatorships and Medicaid planning. NAELA member firm.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 7 more
FirmEast Haven, CT
East Haven firm with a second Connecticut office in Madison and one in Norwood, Massachusetts, serving clients throughout Connecticut. Its estate practice prepares wills, trusts and powers of attorney and offers probate, trust administration and elder law services alongside a business and corporate practice. Weekend appointments are available.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawBusiness Law