Connecticut Probate Court Fees and Costs

Probate court fees in Connecticut are set by statute. They are not discretionary, and they are not negotiable. The amount you owe depends on the type of matter and, for estates, the value of the gross estate. This page provides the full fee schedule with citations to the governing statutes.

Estate Administration Fees (CGS Section 45a-107)

For decedents who die on or after July 1, 2016, estate fees are calculated on the “basis for fees,” which is the greatest of: (i) the gross estate for succession tax purposes, (ii) the inventory (including supplements), (iii) the Connecticut taxable estate, or (iv) the gross estate for federal estate tax purposes (CGS Section 45a-107(b)(1)).

Fee Table

Examples

• $250,000 estate: $150 + (0.35% x $240,000) = $150 + $840 = $990
• $750,000 estate: $1,865 + (0.25% x $250,000) = $1,865 + $625 = $2,490
• $3,000,000 estate: $5,615 + (0.5% x $1,000,000) = $5,615 + $5,000 = $10,615

50% Reduction for Surviving Spouse

Any portion of the basis for fees determined by property passing to the surviving spouse is reduced by 50% before the fee is calculated (CGS Section 45a-107(b)(1)). This can produce substantial savings. For example, if a $2,000,000 estate passes entirely to the surviving spouse, the basis for fees is reduced to $1,000,000, and the fee drops accordingly.

Minimum Fee for Full Estates

If the basis for fees is less than $10,000 and a full estate is opened (rather than using the small estate affidavit procedure), the minimum fee is $150 (CGS Section 45a-107(b)(3)).

Maximum Fee Cap: $40,000

For decedents dying on or after July 1, 2016, the maximum estate fee is $40,000, regardless of the size of the estate (CGS Section 45a-107(l)(3)). This cap does not apply to the additional fees described below (creditor claims, adjournments, mediation, etc.).

Non-Resident Decedents

For a decedent who was not domiciled in Connecticut but owned Connecticut real property or tangible personal property, only the value of that Connecticut property is included in the basis for fees (CGS Section 45a-107(b)(6)). Conversely, for Connecticut domiciliaries, the basis is reduced by the value of real and tangible personal property located outside the state (CGS Section 45a-107(b)(5)).

Non-Estate Filing Fee: $250 (CGS Section 45a-106a)

The standard fee for most non-estate probate filings is $250. This flat fee applies to a wide range of matters, including:

• Guardianship of a minor (temporary, permanent, or standby)
• Conservatorship (appointment, modification, termination)
• Adoption (including adult adoption and foreign adoption validation)
• Termination of parental rights
• Trust proceedings (construction, reformation, modification, termination)
• Commitment for psychiatric treatment
• Commitment for substance use disorders
• Powers of attorney disputes
• Emancipation of minors
• Restoration of firearms rights
• Approval of structured settlement transfers

Other Non-Estate Fees

Accounting Fees (CGS Section 45a-108a)

For fiduciary accountings in matters other than decedent’s estates (trusts, conservatorships, guardianships), fees are calculated based on the value of assets and receipts during the accounting period.

The basic fee is the greater of:

1. The number of one-year periods (or partial years) covered by the account, multiplied by 0.05% of the greatest of the asset values at the beginning or end of the accounting period; or
2. 0.05% of total receipts during the accounting period.

Minimum fee: $50, regardless of the period covered. Maximum fee: $500 per year (or part of a year) covered by the account.

No additional fee is charged for filing an amended or substitute account covering the same period as the original (CGS Section 45a-108a(b)).

Additional Estate-Related Fees (CGS Section 45a-107)

Beyond the basic estate fee, several additional charges may apply during estate administration:

Miscellaneous Fees (CGS Section 45a-109)

In addition to filing fees, the following charges apply across all probate matters:

Fiduciaries (or petitioners, if no fiduciary has been appointed) receive one uncertified copy of each court order at no charge.

Interest on Late Payment

For decedents dying on or after January 1, 2011, unpaid estate fees accrue interest at 0.5% per month (or part of a month) beginning 30 days after the court’s invoice (CGS Section 45a-107(m)(1)).

Interest also accrues if the required estate tax return or copy is not filed with the probate court by its due date (CGS Section 45a-107(m)(2)).

The court may extend the payment deadline to avoid undue hardship, and no additional interest accrues during the extension period (CGS Section 45a-107(m)(3)).

Exemption from interest: Interest does not apply if the basis for fees is $40,000 or less, or if the basis is $500,000 or less and any portion passes to a surviving spouse (CGS Section 45a-107(m)(4)).

Fee Waivers

CGS Section 45a-111 provides for fee waivers in cases of financial hardship. If you believe you qualify, file a fee waiver application with your petition. The court will review and determine eligibility.

Fee Calculator

For a quick estimate of your probate court fees, use the Connecticut Probate Court Fee Calculator. The Probate Court Administrator’s website provides tools for calculating estate fees based on estate value.

Practical Considerations

Estate fees are an expense of administration. They are paid from estate assets and are typically deductible on the estate’s fiduciary income tax return. The fiduciary should budget for these fees early in the administration process. For a complete overview of the fiduciary’s obligations during estate administration, see executor and administrator duties.

For non-estate matters, the $250 filing fee is due at the time of filing (CGS Section 45a-106a(k)). Plan accordingly, especially if you are filing multiple related petitions. When a statute or rule permits combining filings into a single petition, the fee is the largest of the individual fees that would otherwise apply (CGS Section 45a-106a(l)).