Probate
Probate Attorney Serving Glastonbury and Connecticut
Losing someone you love is hard enough without trying to untangle Connecticut’s probate process on your own. Sam guides executors, trustees, and families through it step by step.
What Sam Handles
The Full Range of Probate Court Matters
Sam handles the full range of matters that come before Connecticut’s probate courts, including decedent’s estate administration, trusts, conservatorships, guardianships, and more. Whatever brought you to probate court, he can walk you through exactly what to expect.
The Process
What Is the Connecticut Probate Process?
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone’s estate after they pass away. It usually means proving the will is valid, appointing someone to run the estate, sorting out what’s actually owned and what it’s worth, paying off any creditors, and finally getting everything to the people it’s meant for.
Do All Estates Have to Go Through Probate?
Not necessarily. Smaller estates in Connecticut may qualify for a small estate affidavit, a simplified process that skips much of the standard probate procedure. Assets held in a properly funded trust, jointly owned property, and accounts with named beneficiaries also typically bypass probate entirely.
Timeline & Cost
How Long Does Probate Take, and What Does It Cost?
Probate timelines in Connecticut vary widely depending on the estate’s size and complexity, whether there’s a will, and whether any disputes arise. Costs typically include probate court fees based on the estate’s value, along with attorney fees, and Sam talks through what to expect for your specific situation during your consultation.
Fiduciary Duties
What Does an Executor Do in Connecticut?
An executor, sometimes called a fiduciary, is the person responsible for steering the estate through probate. That means tracking down assets, settling debts and taxes, keeping clean records, and filing a fiduciary accounting with the court before anything gets distributed to beneficiaries.
Creditors have a set window to file claims against an estate once probate opens, and handling that period correctly matters. Sam makes sure executors know the deadlines and how to respond to claims that come in.
Without a Will
What Happens If There’s No Will?
When someone dies without a will in Connecticut, the estate still goes through probate, but state intestacy law determines who inherits rather than the deceased’s own wishes. Sam helps families navigate this process and understand where they stand.
Ways to Avoid Probate
A properly funded trust, joint ownership, and up-to-date beneficiary designations can all help assets pass outside of probate. If avoiding probate is a priority for your family, that’s worth building into your estate plan now rather than leaving it for your executor to sort out later.
Additional Matters
Conservatorship and Guardianship Matters
Sam also handles cases that fall outside a typical estate, including petitioning for the conservatorship of an elderly family member who can no longer manage their own affairs and establishing guardianship for a minor who has received a lawsuit settlement. Both situations require careful court filings and ongoing fiduciary responsibility, and Sam guides families through the process from start to finish.
Wrongful Death Estates
When a wrongful death claim is involved, the estate often needs its own representation alongside the personal injury attorney handling the underlying case. Sam works with personal injury attorneys on these matters, managing the estate side so the family can focus on everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Fiduciary Accounting?
A fiduciary accounting is a detailed financial record that an executor or trustee files with the probate court, showing every asset, expense, and distribution handled during the administration of the estate.
What Is a Small Estate Affidavit in Connecticut?
A small estate affidavit is a simplified process available for smaller estates in Connecticut that allows assets to be transferred without going through full probate, saving time and costs for qualifying estates.
Where Is the Probate Court Located for Glastonbury Estates?
Glastonbury falls within a specific Connecticut probate court district, and Sam handles determining exactly where your matter needs to be filed, so you don’t have to.
How Do I Get Conservatorship for an Elderly Family Member in Connecticut?
Getting conservatorship for an elderly family member involves filing a petition with the probate court, providing medical documentation showing they can no longer manage their own affairs, and attending a hearing. Sam guides families through each step of this process.
What Happens With a Minor’s Lawsuit Settlement in Connecticut?
When a minor receives a lawsuit settlement, a Connecticut probate court typically requires that a guardianship or conservatorship be established to manage the funds responsibly until the minor reaches adulthood. Sam helps set this up correctly.
Let Sam Guide You Through Probate
If you’ve been named executor, or you’re not sure where to start after losing a loved one, Sam can walk you through exactly what comes next.