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.
Filter the directory by county and by the practice area you need, and look for experience with your situation; a board certification in estate planning, trust or probate law is a strong signal. Most Connecticut estate planning attorneys offer an initial consultation, some free and some for a flat fee. Ask up front whether the firm bills by the hour or by package, and what your situation is expected to cost.
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.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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.
In Connecticut, a pour-over will is signed before 2Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-251Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Connecticut: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool.
Connecticut levies an estate taxConn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $15,000,000Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source (top rate 12%Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source) and no inheritance tax; the federal estate tax applies above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
In Connecticut, beneficiaries owe no inheritance tax and the estate pays any estate taxConn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $15,000,000Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; probate assets arrive when the estate closes, 6 months to 12 months for a simple estate.
Inherited assets in Connecticut take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces ordinary income tax at the state's regular ratesConn. Gen. Stat. § 12-700(a)(10) (2024+ graduated rate schedule); § 12-700(a)(10)(E) (flat 6.99% on trusts and estates); § 12-701(a)(20) (subtractions); § 12-700a (AMT coupled to federal AMT)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
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.
31 tax planning 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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31 firms
FirmMilford, CT
Milford and Westport firm, founded in 1933, whose Trusts and Estates Practice Group works in local probate courts from Bridgeport and Stamford to New Haven and Waterbury. Helps executors and families through probate court and estate settlement, from asset inventories to court appearances, and handles estate and gift tax planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningAsset Protection
FirmDarien, CT
Darien firm serving Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Westport, and Wilton, with decades of hearing experience before the probate judges of lower Fairfield County. Represents executors, trustees, conservators, and guardians, including post-death tax planning, and Mark Carta handles challenges against fiduciaries in probate court or the state courts.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 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
FirmWest Hartford, CT
Serves Hartford and Fairfield counties from offices in West Hartford, Stamford and Greenwich; founded in 1909. Its Private Clients Group handles probate and estate administration and executor and trustee services, and a separate fiduciary and probate litigation group takes will contests, contested accountings, fiduciary removal proceedings and conservatorship and guardianship proceedings.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 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
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
FirmAvon, CT
Boutique trusts and estates firm in Avon, established in 1974, serving Avon, Simsbury, Farmington and the Farmington Valley. Guides executors from filing the will with the probate court through collecting and valuing assets, paying creditors, preparing estate and fiduciary income tax returns and the probate court forms, and handles trust administration.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningBusiness Succession
Solo PracticeWilton, CT
Solo estate planning practice in Wilton serving Fairfield County towns including Ridgefield, Westport and Norwalk. Prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney and healthcare directives, including planning for blended families, rental real estate held in LLCs and Connecticut estate tax. Flat-fee plans; consultations in person in Wilton or entirely virtual.
PracticesEstate PlanningTax PlanningAsset Protection
FirmSeymour, CT
Seymour firm, with an appointment-only office in Southbury, serving greater New Haven, Fairfield and Litchfield counties. Takes executors and administrators through Connecticut probate from the petition and heir notices to the inventory, creditor payments and final distribution, and handles successor-trustee administration and will and trust contests. Family law is a second practice.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 12 more
Solo PracticeSouthbury, CT
Southbury solo practice whose estate and probate work is mostly in New Haven County, with clients taken from all areas of Connecticut. Attorney William K. Gernert, in practice since 1998, helps executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries with estate and trust administration, probate court forms, will contests, and Title 19 Medicaid applications. Offers a free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
FirmGlastonbury, CT
Glastonbury firm with six Connecticut offices, the others in Hartford, Simsbury, New Hartford, East Hampton, and Essex. Represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in administering decedents' estates, testamentary trusts and living trusts, in conservatorships and guardianships, and in will contests, will constructions and trustee removal actions, including federal and state tax audits.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
FirmBranford, CT
Branford firm on the shoreline, providing legal services since 1973 to high net worth individuals and closely held businesses. Its four attorneys handle probate administration and probate litigation, estate and gift tax reduction, and Medicaid eligibility and long-term care planning for older clients.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 3 more
Solo PracticeStonington, CT
Stonington trust and estate boutique serving families across New London County. Attorney Paul G. Holland, Jr., who trained in estate administration at Cummings & Lockwood, guides executors through Probate Court filings, asset inventories, creditor claims and estate and income tax returns, and advises successor trustees settling funded revocable trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningAsset Protection
FirmGreenwich, CT
Greenwich office of Mandelbaum Barrett PC, the firm Ivey, Barnum & O'Mara LLC became, with a Trusts & Estates group based in Connecticut. Guides executors and other fiduciaries through estate administration, prepares federal and state estate and gift tax returns, and handles will contests, trust disputes and fiduciary litigation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 6 more
Solo PracticeStamford, CT
Stamford solo practice serving Fairfield County. Attorney James M. Rubino represents executors, administrators, trustees, conservators and beneficiaries in Probate Courts throughout Connecticut on decedents' estates, trusts, conservatorships and will contests. Also represents clients before the IRS and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services on audits and appeals.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 3 more
FirmCheshire, CT
Cheshire firm in the Hon. Silas Hitchcock House on Main Street, in continuous practice since 1920, with attorneys Andrew S. Knott and Robert J. Santoro. Handles probate, estates and trusts, conservatorships, international probate, and genealogy and heirship work. Meets clients remotely or in person.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 4 more
FirmMilford, CT
Serves Fairfield and New Haven counties from offices in Milford, Madison, and Westport. Handles uncontested probate, estate and trust administration, and probate litigation in the probate and superior courts, including will contests, trust disputes, breaches of fiduciary duty, and actions to compel accountings. Offers free initial consultations, with evening and weekend appointments.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
Solo PracticeHartford, CT
Serves Hartford and Litchfield counties from offices in Hartford and Torrington. Advises executors and administrators through Connecticut probate, from filing the will and posting bond to paying creditors and taxes, valuing assets, and locating beneficiaries. Represents estates and fiduciaries in will challenges and disputes over estate management, and assists with conservatorship appointments.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
Solo PracticeMeriden, CT
Meriden practice of Attorney Thomas S. Luby serving central Connecticut from Meriden to Middletown, the shoreline, and New Britain. Counsels family members serving as executors or administrators, represents clients in the probate court, and handles conservatorships and guardianships, with a probate paralegal on staff. Also handles Title XIX Medicaid planning and special needs trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 8 more
FirmGroton, CT
New London County firm on Thames Street in Groton, established in 2004. Prepares probate court documents and advises executors, administrators, conservators and trustees through decedents' estates and conservatorships. Attorney Joseph W. St Rock IV focuses on probate and estate planning and is appointed by local probate courts as conservator, successor administrator and guardian ad litem.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningConservatorshipand 3 more