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.
After a Death in Madison
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.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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.
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.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
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. Attorney fees run 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 under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Connecticut, a surviving spouse takes the first $100,000 plus half of the restConn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-437Verified Oct 21, 2026View source when every child of either spouse is a child of both, and descendants divide what passes to them per stirpesConn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-438Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Connecticut, the 5 monthsC.G.S. § 45a-356 (formerly § 45-230e) (150 days from appointment of the first fiduciary); § 45a-357(a)-(b) (optional notice, 90-day minimum); § 45a-375(c) (two years from death)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source period after the personal representative's appointment protects a representative who distributes after it; late claims can still reach undistributed assets.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Connecticut: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 daysC.G.S. § 45a-341 (extendable to 4 months for cause, § 45a-341(b)(2)); Probate Court Rules §§ 30.12, 30.14; Form PC-2407Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 5 monthsC.G.S. §§ 45a-354, 45a-356, 45a-357, 45a-358, 45a-363, 45a-365, 45a-375Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 12 months.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Connecticut pays executors reasonable compensationCT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
