Connecticut allows executors "reasonable compensation" — around 2.23%–3.82% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payCT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 14, 2026. Executors can also waive their fee entirely or accept a reduced amount. When the executor is a family member who is also a beneficiary, waiving the fee is common because beneficiary distributions aren't taxed as income while executor fees are. See the Connecticut executor fee calculator.

Estate planning attorneys in Connecticut average $388 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $1,164–$2,328 for a simple individual will and $4,460–$6,690 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.

Connecticut allows estates under $40,000 to use a simplified Small Estate Affidavit (Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration, PC-212) procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Connecticut probate calculator to estimate the costs.

In Connecticut, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; estates near or above the Connecticut estate tax threshold; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.