What to Do When Someone Dies in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49), Connecticut
Probate in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49) runs through the Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49), settling their estate runs through the Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Probate Court
Fairfield Probate District (PD-49) · PD-49
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Serves Town of Fairfield only. Located in Sullivan Independence Hall.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49)
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Fairfield, probate runs through the Probate Court at 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield. The court sits in the PD-49.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Connecticut intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Connecticut estates take 12 monthsC.G.S. § 45a-107Verified Jul 14, 2026View source to 18 monthsC.G.S. § 45a-107Verified Jul 14, 2026View source to move through this process. The 5 monthsC.G.S. § 45a-356 (formerly § 45-230e) — 150 days from appointment of first fiduciaryVerified Jul 14, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49)
What probate costs in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49), Connecticut comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Probate Court at 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield. The court is part of the PD-49.
Connecticut charges Sliding-scale statutory formula with $150 full-estate minimumConn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-107(b)Verified Jul 14, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Probate Court (https://efile.ctprobate.gov/). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Connecticut are negotiated, typically 2.2%CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors). Note: C.G.S. § 45a-294 covers will contest expenses only and is not the fee authority.Verified Jul 14, 2026View source to 3.5%CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors). Note: C.G.S. § 45a-294 covers will contest expenses only and is not the fee authority.Verified Jul 14, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.23%Estimated from the 17 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Jul 14, 2026View source to 3.82%Estimated from the 17 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Jul 14, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Connecticut requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%C.G.S. § 45a-289 (bond required); § 45a-169 and § 45a-139 (waiver)Verified Jul 14, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Connecticut typically runs 12 monthsC.G.S. § 45a-107Verified Jul 14, 2026View source to 18 monthsC.G.S. § 45a-107Verified Jul 14, 2026View source, and costs accrue throughout. The 5 monthsC.G.S. § 45a-356 (formerly § 45-230e) — 150 days from appointment of first fiduciaryVerified Jul 14, 2026View source creditor claim window is the single biggest driver of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of estate complexity.
How to File Probate at the Probate Court
If you're handling probate yourself in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49), Connecticut, you can file at the Probate Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the PD-49.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49), families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationPaper Filing Required For
- •Original wills or codicils (paper only)
- •Original probate bonds (paper only)
- •Original adoption or parentage records (paper only)
- •Exemplified copies required by statute (paper only)
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Probate Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Fairfield Probate District (PD-49) Self-Filing Assessment.
What to Bring
To file at the Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49)
Clearing title to real estate after a death—recording a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order—happens at the Town Clerk.
Recording Office Record
Town Clerk
Fairfield Probate District (PD-49) · Town Clerk
Address
Phone
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $70 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
| Conveyance data reportable to the state (OPM/DRS)RequiredDeeds conveying title to real property for considerationCGS 7-34a(a)(1) adds two dollars to the regular recording fee for any document whose data the town clerk must submit to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management under CGS 10-261b. Town clerks bill a one-page deed with consideration at $72. | $2 |
| Missing grantee mailing address surchargeAny deed, except a mortgage deed, conveying title to real estateCGS 7-34a(a)(1): five dollars in addition to the regular recording fee when the deed does not contain the current mailing address of the grantee. | $5 |
Total first page fee is $70: $10 base (CGS 7-34a(a)(1), unchanged by P.A. 25-168) + $10 land-records fee (CGS 7-34a(d)) + $50 community investment surcharge (CGS 7-34a(e), raised from $40 by P.A. 25-168 effective July 1, 2025). Each additional page is $5. The $50 surcharge is distributed: $2 retained by the town clerk, $3 to municipal general revenue for local capital improvement projects, $45 remitted to the State Treasurer for the Donald E. Williams, Jr. community investment account (CGS 4-66aa). A deed conveying title for consideration carries an extra $2 (CGS 7-34a(a)(1) / 10-261b), so town clerks bill it at $72. Nominee (MERS/DART) documents have a separate higher schedule -- CGS 7-34a(a)(2): $116 first page + $5 per page, $159 flat for a nominee assignment or release; town clerks publish these as $160. Connecticut does NOT authorize TOD deeds or Lady Bird (enhanced life estate) deeds for real property.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-34a (as amended by P.A. 25-168, § 412)
Transfer tax
State conveyance tax (CGS 12-494(a)(1), (b)): 0.75% of the consideration; 1.25% on property used for any purpose other than residential use (except unimproved land); for a residential estate with consideration of $800,000 or more, 0.75% on the portion up to $800,000, 1.25% on the portion over $800,000 up to $2,500,000, and 2.25% on the portion over $2,500,000. Tax applies only when consideration equals or exceeds $2,000. State; Municipal conveyance tax: 0.25% in every municipality (CGS 12-494(a)(2)). A targeted investment community (CGS 32-222) or a municipality containing a designated manufacturing plant (CGS 32-75c) may impose an additional tax of up to 0.25% (CGS 12-494(c)) -- e.g. New Britain publishes a combined municipal rate of 0.5%. local. Conveyance tax applies to transfers for consideration of $2,000 or more. CGS 12-498(a) exempts, among others, deeds to which the state or a political subdivision is a party (a)(3), deeds where the consideration is less than $2,000 (a)(10), deeds between spouses (a)(14), and transfers effectuating a mere change of identity or form of ownership with no change in beneficial ownership (a)(17). Since CT does not authorize TOD deeds, the TOD exemption question is moot.
Serves Town of Fairfield only. Located in Old Town Hall at 611 Old Post Road. Land records recorded with the Town Clerk per CGS 7-24.
Verified July 13, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Fairfield Probate District (PD-49)
Connecticut uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49) — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Connecticut are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2.2%CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors). Note: C.G.S. § 45a-294 covers will contest expenses only and is not the fee authority.Verified Jul 14, 2026View source to 3.5%CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors). Note: C.G.S. § 45a-294 covers will contest expenses only and is not the fee authority.Verified Jul 14, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Fairfield Probate District (PD-49) firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Bridgeport Metro Firms
Cohen and Wolf, P.C.
FirmFairfield County firm founded in 1951, with offices in Bridgeport, Westport, and Danbury. Its Trusts & Estates group handles probate and trust administration, contested probate litigation, conservatorships, and guardianships, plus estate and business-succession planning.
Location
1115 Broad StreetBridgeport, CT 06604
Phone
(203) 368-0211
Established
1951
Service Area
2 counties
Goldstein and Peck, P.C.
FirmOne of Bridgeport's longest-standing law firms, practicing since 1939. The firm helps families and individuals with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, business succession planning, and probate administration. Has served Fairfield County clients for over 85 years.
Location
1087 Broad StreetBridgeport, CT 06604
Phone
(203) 334-9421
Established
1939
Service Area
1 county
Knott, Knott & Dunn Attorneys at Law
FirmStratford law firm serving the community since 1953. Well-known throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties for estate planning and elder law services.
Location
1656 Main StreetStratford, CT 06615
Phone
(203) 375-1433
Established
1953
Service Area
2 counties
Lisa A. Knopf, Attorney at Law
Solo PracticeStratford attorney on Main Street serving the Stratford Probate District and Fairfield County. Attorney Lisa A. Knopf probates estates and drafts wills, powers of attorney, healthcare agent forms, and living wills, drawing on more than 30 years of Connecticut practice.
Location
3333 Main StreetStratford, CT 06614
Phone
(203) 522-5000
Service Area
1 county
Owens, Schine & Nicola, PC
FirmConnecticut law firm serving the community since 1928 with offices in Trumbull, New Britain, and Norwalk providing estate planning and probate services.
Location
799 Silver LaneTrumbull, CT 06611
Phone
(203) 375-0600
Established
1928
Service Area
2 counties
Steiber & Schopick
FirmTrumbull firm serving the Trumbull Probate District and Fairfield and New Haven counties since 1974. Prepares wills, trusts, advance directives, and powers of attorney, and handles probate and estate administration. Offers a free initial consultation.
Location
572 White Plains RoadTrumbull, CT 06611
Phone
(203) 261-6565
Established
1974
Service Area
2 counties
Firms from Neighboring Regions
Attorney Thomas Drew
Solo PracticeAttorney Thomas Drew in Westport, CT providing estate planning, probate, elder law, and business formation services. CPA background with expertise in estate and business planning.
Location
55 Post Road West, 2nd FloorWestport, CT 06881
Phone
(203) 221-4799
Service Area
5 counties
Benjamin Teicher, PLLC
Solo PracticeBethel estate planning attorney on Greenwood Avenue serving the Northern Fairfield County Probate District and the greater Danbury area. Prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, and handles probate and estate administration, Medicaid planning, and guardianships. Admitted in both Connecticut and Massachusetts, useful for families with assets across state lines.
Location
93 Greenwood Avenue, Floor 2Bethel, CT 06801
Phone
(203) 417-1552
Service Area
1 county
Berchem Moses PC
FirmTrusted estate planning and probate attorneys in Connecticut with offices in Milford and Westport. Comprehensive trusts and estates services since 1933.
Location
75 Broad StreetMilford, CT 06460
Phone
(203) 783-1200
Established
1933
Service Area
2 counties
Brian D. Kaschel
Solo PracticeFairfield County probate lawyer serving Stamford and Fairfield with expertise in probate administration, will contests, and estate litigation. Practicing since 1996.
Location
183 Sherman StreetFairfield, CT 06824
Phone
(203) 259-5251
Service Area
1 county
Carta, McAlister & Moore, LLC
FirmDarien law firm providing estate planning, wills, trusts, and fiduciary representation. Glen J. Moore leads the trusts and estates practice with nearly three decades of experience serving Darien and surrounding communities.
Location
777 Post Road, 2nd FloorDarien, CT 06820
Phone
(203) 202-3100
Service Area
1 county
Collins Hannafin, P.C.
FirmFull-service Danbury law firm serving Fairfield and Southern Litchfield County communities since 1963. Trusts and estates practice provides estate planning, will and trust drafting, probate administration, and elder law. 12 attorneys; firm holds Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating.
Location
148 Deer Hill AvenueDanbury, CT 06810
Phone
(203) 885-1938
Established
1963
Service Area
2 counties
Cramer & Anderson, LLP
FirmOne of Connecticut's oldest law firms, founded in 1854, with flagship office on the Green in New Milford. Estate planning attorneys focus on preserving, handling, and maintaining client wealth and assets. Over 20 practice areas.
Location
51 Main StreetNew Milford, CT 06776
Phone
(860) 355-2631
Established
1854
Service Area
2 counties
Cummings & Lockwood LLC
FirmConnecticut private-wealth firm with offices in West Hartford and Stamford, founded 1909. Its Private Clients Group handles trust and estate administration, estate-tax planning, and business succession for individuals, families, and family offices. Ranked Chambers High Net Worth Tier 1 for Private Wealth Law in Connecticut for ten consecutive years.
Location
75 Isham Road, Suite 400West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone
(860) 313-4900
Established
1909
Service Area
2 counties
Elizabeth Roache Law
Solo PracticeEstate planning attorney in Wilton, CT serving Fairfield County with comprehensive wills, trusts, and probate services.
Location
73 Old Ridgefield Road, #3Wilton, CT 06897
Phone
(203) 529-1276
Service Area
1 county
Fisher Law Firm, LLC
FirmSeymour-based firm with two attorneys handling estate planning and probate as a primary practice alongside family law. Located within the Derby Probate District (PD-41), serving clients throughout New Haven, Fairfield, and Litchfield Counties.
Location
7 Wakeley StreetSeymour, CT 06483
Phone
(203) 828-6191
Established
2010
Service Area
3 counties
Glouzgal Law PLLC
Solo PracticeBrookfield law firm serving Bethel, Danbury, and northern Fairfield County. Estate planning practice covers custom estate plans, wills, trusts (including fertility-preservation trusts), powers of attorney, advance directives, and probate settlement. Firm also handles personal injury matters in CT and NY.
Location
304 Federal Road, Suite 317Brookfield, CT 06804
Phone
(203) 885-0500
Service Area
1 county
James M. Rubino, Attorney at Law
Solo PracticeStamford estate planning lawyer providing comprehensive wills, trusts, and probate services to Fairfield County families. AV Preeminent rated with 36 years of experience.
Location
1100 Summer StreetStamford, CT 06905
Phone
(203) 327-4212
Service Area
1 county
Law Office of Martin J. Lawlor, Jr.
Solo PracticeBethel general practice firm with a strong concentration in estate planning, probate, and real estate for the Danbury/Bethel area. Solo practitioner with 47+ years of legal experience serving northern Fairfield County families.
Location
99 Greenwood AvenueBethel, CT 06801
Phone
(203) 790-9398
Service Area
1 county
Law Offices of Charles L. Kurmay
FirmEstate planning and probate attorneys with offices in Milford, Madison, Westport, and New York City. More than 100 years of combined estate planning and probate experience.
Location
61 Cherry Street, Suite 1Milford, CT 06460
Phone
(203) 380-1743
Service Area
2 counties
Law Offices of DePanfilis & Vallerie, LLC
FirmNorwalk estate planning and probate firm led by a retired probate judge with 22 years on the bench. Over 40 years of practice serving Fairfield County families.
Location
25 Belden AvenueNorwalk, CT 06850
Phone
(203) 846-9585
Established
1977
Service Area
1 county
Mandelbaum Barrett PC (formerly Ivey, Barnum & O'Mara, LLC)
FirmGreenwich trusts and estates practice (Ivey, Barnum & O'Mara, merged into Mandelbaum Barrett effective January 1, 2026), with a second Connecticut office in New Canaan. Handles probate, trust administration, and estate litigation for Fairfield County families, from straightforward estates to high-net-worth matters.
Location
170 Mason StreetGreenwich, CT 06830
Phone
(203) 661-6000
Service Area
1 county
Mary Keating Esq, LLC
Solo PracticeDarien firm on Old Kings Highway South serving the Darien-New Canaan Probate District and lower Fairfield County. Handles probate and estate settlement, including Connecticut estate tax returns and probate fees, alongside estate planning and residential real estate. Attorney Mary Keating, a Yale Law graduate, has more than 25 years of local estate and real estate experience.
Location
23 Old Kings Highway South, Suite 102Darien, CT 06820
Phone
(203) 655-7200
Service Area
1 county
Maya Murphy, P.C.
FirmEstate planning and probate law firm in Westport serving Fairfield County with comprehensive trusts and estates services. Multiple attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.
Location
266 Post Road East, Suite 1Westport, CT 06880
Phone
(203) 221-3100
Service Area
1 county
Murphy and Murphy, LLP
FirmDanbury elder law and estate planning firm with 44+ years combined experience. NAELA members serving western Connecticut including Danbury, Ridgefield, Bethel, Newtown, and Brookfield.
Location
36 Mill Plain Road, Suite 404Danbury, CT 06811
Phone
(203) 748-2766
Service Area
1 county
Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C.
FirmEstate and elder law firm with offices in Glastonbury and Westport, serving the Hartford and Fairfield County probate districts since 1987. Handles probate and trust administration, Medicaid (Title 19) planning, conservatorships and guardianships, and special needs and LGBTQ estate planning.
Location
200 Glastonbury Boulevard, Suite 202Glastonbury, CT 06033
Phone
(860) 548-1000
Established
1987
Service Area
2 counties
Oberst DeFala Law, PC
FirmNorwalk-based general practice firm with a meaningful estate planning component, offering wills, living trusts, testamentary trusts, and estate administration to Fairfield County families since 1991. Estate planning is a core published practice area.
Location
111 East Avenue, Suite 333Norwalk, CT 06851
Phone
(203) 429-4789
Established
1991
Service Area
1 county
Richard H. Saxl, Attorney at Law
Solo PracticeEstate planning attorney in Westport, CT serving Fairfield County. Licensed since 1976 with AV Preeminent rating and multiple Super Lawyers selections.
Location
265 Post Road WestWestport, CT 06880
Phone
(203) 222-8422
Service Area
1 county
Sweeney Legal (John Sweeney)
Solo PracticeElder, wills, estate and business law attorney in Ridgefield serving Fairfield County. Licensed in Connecticut and New York with 30 years of legal experience. Member of ElderCounsel.
Location
38C Grove Street, Suite 110Ridgefield, CT 06877
Phone
(203) 216-6877
Service Area
1 county
Wiley Law, LLC
Solo PracticeShelton estate planning attorney licensed in Connecticut, New York, and Florida. Dedicated estate and business planning practice with the "Thriving Family Plan" program for ongoing counsel.
Location
1000 Bridgeport Avenue, Suite 205Shelton, CT 06484
Phone
(203) 993-6525
Service Area
2 counties
Willinger, Willinger & Bucci, PLLC
FirmShelton firm on Bridgeport Avenue serving the Shelton Probate District and the lower Naugatuck Valley, with a second office in Darien. Handles probate and estate administration, wills, and trusts, and has worked with Connecticut families for more than 35 years. Offers a free consultation.
Location
1000 Bridgeport Avenue, Suite 501Shelton, CT 06484
Phone
(203) 760-0442
Service Area
2 counties
Withers Bergman LLP
FirmInternationally recognized private client firm with a dedicated Greenwich office serving high-net-worth individuals on wealth planning, estate and trust structuring, tax, and charitable giving. The US entity formed in 2002 via merger of Withers LLP (founded London 1896) with New Haven's Bergman, Horowitz & Reynolds.
Location
1700 East Putnam Avenue, Suite 400Greenwich, CT 06870
Phone
(203) 302-4100
Established
2002
Service Area
1 county
Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky, LLP
FirmOne of Stamford's oldest and most established firms, founded in 1915. The estate planning practice focuses on minimizing taxes, protecting assets, and drafting wills and trust agreements that reflect each client's objectives. Handles estates of all complexity levels.
Location
600 Summer Street, 7th FloorStamford, CT 06901
Phone
(203) 327-2300
Established
1915
Service Area
1 county
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
- C.G.S. § 45a-107
- C.G.S. § 45a-289 (bond required); § 45a-169 and § 45a-139 (waiver)
- C.G.S. § 45a-356 (formerly § 45-230e) — 150 days from appointment of first fiduciary
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-107(b)
- CT Probate Court Rules of Procedure, Rule 39 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Hayward v. Plant factors). Note: C.G.S. § 45a-294 covers will contest expenses only and is not the fee authority.
- Estimated from the 17 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)
Data sourced from Connecticut statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
You open probate by filing a petition with the Probate Court in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49), attaching the original will (if any), the death certificate, and the filing fee (about $1865). Once the court issues letters, the personal representative can act.
Total probate costs on a $500,000 estate run about $32,199 statewide in Connecticut. For Fairfield Probate District (PD-49), that means filing fees (about $1865 to open), attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and possibly a bond. The calculator on this page runs the math for your estate size.
Yes. The Probate Court in Fairfield Probate District (PD-49) accepts e-filing through the state portal. In-person filing at the courthouse is still available for those without digital access.
Not every estate needs one. Simple estates, small estates under the affidavit threshold, and states with informal probate can often be handled without counsel. Contested wills, out-of-state property, and business interests usually need an attorney. The Connecticut self-filing assessment scores whether this estate can be handled without one.
A simple Connecticut probate typically closes in 6–12 months; average estates run 12–18 months. The mandatory creditor-claim period accounts for much of that, so even uncontested estates rarely close quickly.
A revocable living trust skips probate entirely — no filing fee, no attorney schedule, no executor commission. The cost of setting up the trust is typically recovered many times over compared to what probate would cost the estate. Create a revocable trust online and keep the estate out of Fairfield Probate District (PD-49) probate.
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