Probate Court in Connecticut
Assistance with Probate Court
Probating Wills
When a person who owns property dies, the Probate Court becomes involved to oversee the division of property among those persons legally entitled to it. If the person left a will, the division of property will be carried out as set forth in the will. The process of proving that a will is genuine and distributing the property is known as “probating” a will. If the individual did not leave a will, his or her property will be divided according to Connecticut’s law of “intestacy.” All debts, funeral expenses, and taxes must be paid before the remaining assets of the estate can be distributed.
Probate Courts have jurisdiction over many matters, including:
- Probating wills and the administration of estates
- Overseeing testamentary and living trusts
- Determining title to real and personal property
- Construing the meaning of wills and trusts
- Appointing Guardians for persons with mental retardation
- Appointing Conservators of the Person and the Estate of incapable individuals
- Committing those suffering from mental illness, alcoholism, or drug addiction or an appropriate facility
- Removing unfit parents as Guardians of their children
- Terminating the parental rights of parents who cannot fulfill their parental responsibilities
- Granting adoptions
- Granting name changes
Administrating Estates
An estate must be opened if an individual owned property at the time of his/her death in his/her name alone or together with others (but not in survivorship). A Probate Court order is required to transfer this type of property to the proper party.
Please contact Attorney Elizabeth A. Edwards for your estate planning and probate administration needs.