Make Fillable Legal Connecticut Heirship Affidavits Forms For Free

In Connecticut, if a decedent had no solely owned real estate and the total value of all of the decedent's personal property does not exceed $40,000, the small estates procedure may be used. The small estates procedure is a simplified method of settling an estate that avoids formal probate proceedings.

Full "probate" is ONLY required by law if the person who dies, with or without a will, (1) owned real estate (not just a life use) that does not pass by the deed to the "surviving" joint owner, OR (2) owned $40,000 or more of other assets that also don't pass by beneficiary or joint ownership to another person.

The cost of probate in Connecticut largely depends on the following factors: How large the estate is - previous law maxed capped fees at $12,500, but in 2015 that cap was removed; now estates exceeding a $2M value will pay a flat rate (currently $5615) plus an additional ½ percent of the gross estate value over $2M.

In Connecticut, the following assets are subject to probate: Solely-owned property: Any asset that was solely owned by the deceased person with no designated beneficiary is subject to probate. This could include bank accounts, cars, houses, personal belongings, and business interests.

Spouse and children -- spouse takes 1/2 the estate. If the children are also the spouse's, the spouse also takes $100,000. If they are not, spouse only takes 1/2. Whatever remains is divided equally among the children in the same generation.

If the decedent's solely-owned assets include no real property and are valued at less than $40,000 ? which meets Connecticut's ?small estates limit? ? then the assets and property of the estate can be settled without full probate, under a much shorter and easier process.