Connecticut guide

What to do when someone dies in Connecticut

If you're settling an estate in Connecticut, probate runs through one of the state's dedicated Probate Courts — one per probate district, which doesn't always align with town or county lines. Connecticut also has its own estate tax tied to the federal lifetime exclusion, which means the threshold changes when federal law changes. Simplified procedures are available for smaller estates.

Content updated: October 2026

What's unique in Connecticut

State-specific rules that affect how an estate is handled here.

Dedicated Probate Court system

Connecticut has its own Probate Court in each probate district. The court handles estate administration, trust supervision, and guardianship. A simplified procedure is available for estates under $40,000.

Connecticut estate tax

Connecticut has its own estate and gift tax with a top rate of 12%. The exclusion amount is tied to the federal lifetime exclusion and adjusts over time — verify the current threshold with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services or an estate attorney before assuming no tax applies.

Elective share rights

A surviving spouse in Connecticut can elect a life interest (lifetime use) in one-third of the property passing under the will. The election must be filed within 150 days after the court mails the decree admitting the will.

State income tax and SERS/CTRS

Connecticut has its own income tax. A final state return must be filed. If the deceased was a SERS or CTRS member, survivor benefits need to be claimed separately. Note: Connecticut taxes Social Security income for households above certain income thresholds — a surviving spouse receiving SSA survivor benefits should check whether they fall above the exemption limit.

A glimpse at what Order covers in Connecticut

These are just a few of the Connecticut-specific tasks Order surfaces automatically when you select your state.

File for Connecticut probate in Probate CourtLegal & Estate

Connecticut has its own Probate Court in each district — boundaries don't follow town lines. File in the correct probate district. Simplified procedure for personal property under $40,000 with no real estate.

Review Connecticut elective share rightsLegal & Estate

Surviving spouse may elect a life interest (lifetime use) in one-third of the property passing under the will. The election must be filed within 150 days after the court mails the decree admitting the will.

Review Connecticut estate tax obligationsFinancial Affairs

CT estate tax exclusion is tied to the federal lifetime exclusion and adjusts over time — verify the current threshold with the CT Dept. of Revenue Services. This is a separate filing from the federal return.

Plus dozens more tasks across all 8 categories: funeral arrangements, digital accounts, dependents, and more.

Official resources for Connecticut

Connecticut Probate CourtsFile the estate in the probate district where the deceased lived Connecticut Dept. of Revenue ServicesFile the state estate tax return and final state income tax return Connecticut DMVTransfer vehicle titles to heirs using estate documentation Connecticut SERS / CTRSNotify the pension and apply for any survivor benefit for state employees Connecticut Dept. of Veterans AffairsApply for the surviving spouse property tax exemption and burial eligibility at Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown

What families commonly miss in Connecticut

Many families assume probate is filed in the town or city where their loved one lived — but Connecticut's probate district boundaries don't follow those lines, and filing in the wrong district means starting over with significant delay.
Many Connecticut families assume that handling the federal estate tax filing covers their state obligation too — but Connecticut has its own estate tax with a different exclusion amount, and leaving the state return unfiled can result in significant penalties.
Many Connecticut families with small estates assume the simplified probate procedure will work for everything — but any real property at all, even a small inherited lot, disqualifies the estate from the simplified track entirely.

Deeper reading

Probate: what families need to know

Probate rules vary significantly by state. Our full guide explains the process, timelines, and how to avoid common delays in Connecticut.

Military families in Connecticut

Connecticut has additional veteran & survivor benefits

Contact the local tax assessor for veteran property tax exemptions (Connecticut)
Contact Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery

Connecticut-specific

Apply for Connecticut surviving spouse property tax exemptionConnecticut provides a property tax exemption for surviving spouses of veterans rated 100% disabled (or who died as a result of service). Exemptions are applied locally — contact your town assessor's office with the veteran's discharge papers (DD-214) and disability rating documentation.
Contact Connecticut State Veterans CemeteryLocated in Middletown. Veterans and eligible dependents may qualify for burial. Contact the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.

Start these Connecticut-specific tasks in Order

These tasks appear automatically in your checklist when you select Connecticut as your state.

File for Connecticut probate in Probate CourtLegal & Estate

Open a decedent estate in the probate district of domicile.

Review Connecticut spousal share rightsLegal & Estate

Surviving spouse entitled to life use of one-third of property

Transfer vehicle at Connecticut DMVLegal & Estate

Submit title transfer application with probate court documentation

Plus dozens more tasks added automatically for Connecticut families.

Order walks your family through every step, for Connecticut and beyond.

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Covers all 50 states + DC · Jurisdiction-specific tasks added automatically

See guides for other states

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