Probate cost in Connecticut
In Connecticut, estates up to $40,000 can often skip full probate. For a $300,000 estate, the court fee is $1,165.
Connecticut's small estate limit is $40,000. Above it, the estate usually goes through probate.
- Court fee to open probate source$1,165
- Attorney feeNo legal schedule: set by agreement or the courtset by agreement
- Executor feeNo legal schedule: set by agreement or the courtset by agreement
Probate total$1,165+
The total leaves out the costs shown without a number.
- Quicken WillMaker & Trust Plus sourceOne-time price for one person$149
- Yearly feeoptional yearly renewal$40
- Moving a home into the trustSet by your county recordercounty recording fee
Trust total$149+
Assets left outside the trust can still need probate.
Probate cost by estate size
| Estate value | Court fee | Attorney (law) | Executor (law) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $465 | not set by law | not set by law | $465+ |
| $250,000 | $990 | not set by law | not set by law | $990+ |
| $500,000 | $1,865 | not set by law | not set by law | $1,865+ |
| $1,000,000 | $3,115 | not set by law | not set by law | $3,115+ |
"Not set by law" means the fee is agreed with the lawyer or set by the court, so it is not in the total. Use your own numbers.
The rules in Connecticut
- Small estate limit: $40,000 (Affidavit in lieu of administration (settlement of small estates), C.G.S. 45a-273). Does not cover real estate. Limit is solely owned personal property, excluding property that passes outside probate. Not available if the decedent solely owned any Connecticut real property. Filed in Probate Court; the court may not issue a decree until 30 days after it sends a copy to the Department of Administrative Services. Source
- Court fee: $1,165 for a $300,000 estate. C.G.S. 45a-107(b), decedents dying on or after July 1, 2016 (2026 Supplement). One fee for the whole estate, based on the greatest of gross estate for succession tax, inventory, Connecticut taxable estate or federal gross estate; property passing to a surviving spouse counts at 50%. Schedule: $25 to $500; $50 to $1,000; $50 + 1% over $1,000 to $10,000; $150 + 0.35% over $10,000 to $500,000; $1,865 + 0.25% over $500,000 to $2,000,000; $5,615 + 0.5% over $2,000,000; $40,000 cap at $8,877,000. Minimum $150 if a full estate is opened under $10,000. Bands restate each line as fee + rate x total value. $300,000 basis: $1,165. The 45a-106a filing fee does not apply to decedents' estates. Source
- Attorney fee: No legal schedule: set by agreement or the court. No statutory schedule known. Statute not read in this pass.
- Executor fee: No legal schedule: set by agreement or the court. No statutory schedule known. Statute not read in this pass.
Some Connecticut rules could not be checked on a current official page. Each rule links to the source we used. Confirm with the court or a lawyer before you rely on it.
General information from official state sources, not legal advice.