Connecticut Resources for Executors

The amount a surviving spouse inherits without a will depends on whether your parents are still alive. If they are, your spouse may have to share the estate with them—a result that surprises many people and underscores why having a will matters.

Unlike states with formal independent administration statutes (such as California and Texas), Connecticut doesn't offer a simplified procedure for executors to petition for reduced court oversight. However, executors typically have statutory authority to manage routine estate matters. For families looking to avoid probate court involvement entirely, a revocable living trust remains the most reliable option.

Connecticut imposes its own estate tax on estates exceeding $15,000,000Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, with a top rate of 12%Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-391Verified Sep 15, 2026View source. This exemption currently matches or is close to the federal estate tax exemption of $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source. Families with estates near this threshold often use trusts and lifetime gifting to reduce exposure.

Connecticut provides a statutory homestead exemption protecting up to $250,000 in home equity from creditors. While not as strong as the constitutional protections in states like Texas or Florida, this still provides meaningful protection for the family home. Executors must publish a notice to creditors, who then have 5 monthsC.G.S. § 45a-356 (formerly § 45-230e) — 150 days from appointment of the first fiduciary; this period exonerates the fiduciary for good-faith distributions and does not itself bar a claim. Claims are barred only by the optional 90-day-minimum notice under § 45a-357(a)-(b) or by the outer limit in § 45a-375(c) (two years from death, or the applicable statute of limitations, whichever occurs first).Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims against the estate.