Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

Connecticut requires the use of the official Probate Court form
PC-200 (Petition/Administration or Probate of Will) to petition a Connecticut
Probate Court to admit a will and appoint an executor. This template provides the
substantive legal content to help you prepare — but you must transfer your content to
the official PC-200 (and file the Confidential Information Sheet PC-200CI) before
filing. Official forms are available at https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND FOR LETTERS TESTAMENTARY

PROBATE COURT, DISTRICT OF [PROBATE DISTRICT NAME] (DISTRICT NO. [____]), STATE OF CONNECTICUT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption and Estate Information
2. Petitioner Information
3. Decedent Information
4. Basis for Jurisdiction and Venue
5. The Will Offered for Probate
6. Beneficiaries Under the Will and Heirs at Law
7. Nomination and Priority of Executor
8. Bond
9. Prayer for Relief
10. Statement Under Penalty of False Statement
11. Certificate of Service / Notice
12. Attachments Checklist

1. CAPTION AND ESTATE INFORMATION

ESTATE OF:

[DECEDENT FULL LEGAL NAME], also known as [AKA, if any] (include all names and initials under which any asset was held), Deceased.

2. PETITIONER INFORMATION

Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]
Address: [STREET ADDRESS], [CITY], [STATE] [ZIP CODE]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]
Relationship / Interest: [e.g., Executor named in the Will; beneficiary; heir]

3. DECEDENT INFORMATION

4. BASIS FOR JURISDICTION AND VENUE

a. The Decedent died on [__/__/____].

b. Jurisdiction / Venue. This Court has jurisdiction and is the proper venue because the Decedent was domiciled in this probate district at the time of death, as provided by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-303 (and § 45a-287 for nonresident decedents). Jurisdiction is based on:
☐ Domicile in District
☐ Other (e.g., real or tangible personal property located in the district; bank account; intangible personal property; cause of action arising in the district) — explain on Second Sheet, PC-180.

c. Testate. The Decedent died testate, leaving a Last Will and Testament dated [__/__/____] ☐ and codicil(s) dated [__/__/____], herewith presented for probate.

d. ☐ After making the Will, the Decedent had a child born or adopted, married, or had a marriage dissolved by divorce or annulment (C.G.S. §§ 45a-257 to 45a-257c) — explain on PC-180.

5. THE WILL OFFERED FOR PROBATE

a. The original Last Will and Testament dated [__/__/____] (the "Will") ☐ and codicil(s) accompany this Petition and are presented for probate.

b. Execution. The Will was executed in compliance with Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-251: it is in writing, subscribed by the testator, and attested by two witnesses, each subscribing in the presence of the testator.

c. Proof / Self-proving status.
☐ The attesting witnesses executed a self-proving affidavit under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-285, and such sworn statement shall be accepted by the Court as if taken before the Court; no further proof of execution is required absent objection.
☐ The Will is not accompanied by a § 45a-285 affidavit; the petitioner will provide proof of due execution by testimony or affidavit of an attesting witness.

d. Attesting witnesses (if applicable):

e. ☐ The proposed fiduciary named below is the primary executor named in the Will; ☐ the proposed fiduciary is not the primary executor named in the Will — explain on PC-180.

6. BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE WILL AND HEIRS AT LAW

6.1 Beneficiaries under the Will (including nominated testamentary trustees and inter vivos trustees; indicate the paragraph of the Will where the interest arises):

6.2 Heirs at Law (those who would take if the Decedent had died intestate — C.G.S. §§ 45a-436 to 45a-439; entitled to notice):

☐ Indicate any person under age 18, in the military service, or under conservatorship or legal disability, and include the legal representative's name, address, and position of trust (C.G.S. §§ 45a-436, 45a-438, 45a-439).

7. NOMINATION AND PRIORITY OF EXECUTOR

a. The Will nominates [NOMINATED EXECUTOR NAME] as Executor ☐ and [SUCCESSOR NAME] as successor/alternate Executor.

b. Priority. Upon admission of the Will, letters testamentary are to be issued to the executor named in the Will. The named executor has priority to serve, and the proposed fiduciary is not disqualified from serving in that capacity.

c. The proposed fiduciary accepts the trust and will sign the Acceptance of Trust on the PC-200.

d. ☐ The proposed fiduciary is a nonresident of Connecticut; Appointment of Probate Judge as Agent for Service (PC-482) is attached.

8. BOND

a. General rule. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-289, a probate bond is required of an executor unless excused as provided by law. A probate bond is security for the faithful performance and accounting of the fiduciary's duties (C.G.S. § 45a-139(a)).

b. ☐ The Will excuses/waives bond. Petitioner requests that the Executor serve without bond as the Will directs, as permitted by C.G.S. § 45a-289.

c. ☐ Bond is required. Petitioner will furnish a probate bond in such amount and with such surety as the Court requires (C.G.S. § 45a-139(b)). Estimated amount: $[________________].

d. ☐ Waiver by value. The Court may waive bond where the assets of the estate are less than $20,000, or where the amount of the estate not restricted by Probate Court order is less than $10,000 (C.G.S. § 45a-139(c)).

e. Estimated value of estate: (a) personal property $[________________]; (b) gross taxable estate $[________________]; (c) wrongful death claim $[________________].

9. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, the Petitioner requests that the Court:

a. Accept this Petition and the Will (and any codicil) for probate, fix a time and place for hearing, and order notice as required by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-286;

b. Approve and admit the Will (and any codicil) to probate as the valid Last Will and Testament of the Decedent;

c. Appoint [NOMINATED EXECUTOR NAME] as Executor of the Estate;

d. Order the issuance of Letters Testamentary to the Executor upon acceptance of trust and qualification;

e. ☐ Order that the Executor serve without bond as the Will directs, or ☐ fix a probate bond in the amount of $[________________];

f. Grant such other and further relief as is just and proper.

10. STATEMENT UNDER PENALTY OF FALSE STATEMENT

The Petitioner represents that all of the foregoing is true and complete to the best of the Petitioner's knowledge and belief, and that the Petitioner has used all proper diligence to ascertain the names and addresses of all heirs and beneficiaries. The representations contained herein are made under the penalties of false statement (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-157b).

Date: [__/__/____]

Petitioner Signature: ______________________________________

Printed Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]

11. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE / NOTICE

Service of Petition (Probate of Will). As required for petitions to probate a will, the Petitioner has sent a copy of this Petition, together with a copy of the Will and any codicil, to each heir of the Decedent and each beneficiary under the Will, and certifies to the Court that copies have been sent. ☐ A beneficiary is a charity; a copy of the Petition, Will, and codicil has also been sent to the Connecticut Attorney General.

Notice of Hearing. Notice of the time and place of any hearing on admission of the Will will be given to interested parties as ordered by the Court under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-286 (and § 45a-126 regarding newspaper publication where ordered).

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: [PETITIONER / ATTORNEY NAME]
Connecticut Juris No.: [________________] (if applicable)
Address: [________________________________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

12. ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST

☐ Probate Court Form PC-200 (Petition/Administration or Probate of Will)
☐ Confidential Information Sheet PC-200CI (decedent's SSN)
☐ Original Last Will and Testament (and any codicils)
☐ Copy of the Death Certificate with SSN redacted
☐ Self-Proving Affidavit / proof of will out of court (C.G.S. § 45a-285), if applicable
☐ Acceptance of Trust signed by each proposed fiduciary
☐ Appointment of Probate Judge as Agent for Service (PC-482) if fiduciary is a nonresident
☐ Second Sheet PC-180 for additional data, if needed
☐ Certification that the Petition and Will were sent to all heirs and beneficiaries (and Attorney General if a charitable beneficiary)
☐ Probate bond or request for waiver (C.G.S. §§ 45a-289, 45a-139), if applicable
☐ Filing fee / contact court regarding newspaper notice publication

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 45a-282 to 45a-290 — Admission of will to probate.
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-303 / § 45a-287 — Jurisdiction and venue (domiciliary and nonresident decedents).
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-251 — Execution of wills.
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-285 — Proof of will out of court (self-proving affidavit).
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-289 — Probate bond required of executor unless excused.
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-139 — Probate bonds; waiver when assets under $20,000 / unrestricted under $10,000.
• Connecticut Probate Court forms (PC-200, PC-200CI, PC-180, PC-482): https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms