Eastern Connecticut firm with offices in Willimantic, Brooklyn, Coventry and Colchester. Its probate group, led by Attorney Patrick M. Prue, a former probate judge, and Attorney Evelina M. Ruszkowski, handles estate administration from inventory to final distribution, conservatorship applications, trust administration and probate disputes. Meetings are available in person or virtually.
After a Death in Coventry
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Connecticut
Free Connecticut forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Connecticut.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Healthcare Power of Attorney
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.
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Financial Power of Attorney
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.
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Last Will and Testament
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.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Connecticut
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Connecticut: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
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.
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How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
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.
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What Are the Estate Laws in My State?
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.
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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
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.
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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
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.
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