What Happens to Jointly Owned Property in Connecticut When an Owner Dies?
When a joint owner dies in Connecticut, what the survivor records is the “Affidavit of facts relating to title or interest in real estateConn. Gen. Stat. § 47-12aVerified Oct 26, 2026View source”.
Connecticut names the “Affidavit of facts relating to title or interest in real estateConn. Gen. Stat. § 47-12aVerified Oct 26, 2026View source”. Connecticut lets any person with knowledge of the facts record an affidavit stating a death that may affect title to land. A joint tenant's interest passes to the surviving joint tenant by reason of the death; the affidavit puts the death on the town land recordsConn. Gen. Stat. § 47-12a(b)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. The affidavit of death is prepared to the Connecticut statute's requirements.
Who may sign, in the statute's words: Any person having knowledge of the facts or competent to testify concerning them in open courtConn. Gen. Stat. § 47-12a(a)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. The document is sworn before a notary public, who completes the juratConn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94a(3); § 47-12a(a)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
What the statute has it state: the facts of the death that may affect title to the real estate; a description of the land whose title the facts may affect; the name of the person appearing by the record to be the owner of the land when the affidavit is recordedConn. Gen. Stat. § 47-12a(a), (b)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Filed with the Affidavit of facts relating to title or interest in real estateConn. Gen. Stat. § 47-12aVerified Oct 26, 2026View source: Connecticut estate tax return; Certificate of release of lienConn. Gen. Stat. § 12-392(a)(1), (b)(1), (b)(3)(J)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
In Connecticut a deed or will that runs to the owners and the survivor of them, to the owners as joint tenants with right of survivorship or "as joint tenants", or to two owners as tenants by the entirety creates a joint tenancy with right of survivorship. The owners may hold equal or unequal sharesConn. Gen. Stat. § 47-12a; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47-14a, 47-14f; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 12-392, 12-398Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Loss of a Spouse
What a surviving spouse needs to do: death certificates, survivor benefits, whether probate is even required, and the tax election that expires.
Learn more
Death of a Parent
A step-by-step guide to what happens after a parent dies: the documents to find, the certificates to order, and whether probate is even required.
Learn more
New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
Learn moreForms for Settling an Estate in Connecticut
Free forms for settling an estate in Connecticut: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Affidavit of Death
In Connecticut, a surviving joint owner records the “Affidavit of facts relating to title or interest in real estateConn. Gen. Stat. § 47-12aVerified Oct 26, 2026View source”.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
In Connecticut, the petition asks the Connecticut Probate Court to appoint the personal representative, whose authority is proved by Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; every appointment goes through the courtC.G.S. § 45a-286 (hearing required before proving or rejecting a will; no registrar/clerk appointment track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Renunciation of Executor
In Connecticut, a person named as executor may decline to serveConn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-290(a); Probate Court form PC-200, REV. 07/23Verified Sep 22, 2026View source before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
In Connecticut, heirs put their identity on the land records with a recorded affidavit of facts affecting title that states who the heirs areC.G.S. § 47-12aVerified Sep 24, 2026View source; once recorded it is prima facie evidence of the facts stated.
Small Estate Affidavit
In Connecticut, the Small Estate Affidavit (Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration, PC-212)C.G.S. § 45a-273Verified Sep 8, 2026View source covers estates with personal property of $40,000C.G.S. § 45a-273Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less, 30 daysC.G.S. § 45a-273Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, filed with the court.
Estate Inventory
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.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Connecticut
Free tools for settling an estate in Connecticut: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
In Connecticut, certified death certificates come from the Connecticut Department of Public Health - State Vital Records OfficeConnecticut Department of Public Health - State Vital Records OfficeVerified Oct 15, 2026View source; the first copy costs $20Connecticut Department of Public Health - State Vital Records OfficeVerified Oct 15, 2026View source.
Do I Need Probate?
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.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Connecticut requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-700Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
After a death in Connecticut, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $40,000C.G.S. § 45a-273Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 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 to file claims after notice.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
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.
What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?
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.
Hire a Connecticut Probate Attorney
Browse 112 probate firms in Connecticut with addresses, contact info, and practice details.
Your kids shouldn't have to do this.
Connecticut Estate Settlement Resources
In-depth guides covering Connecticut probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.