How is an estate distributed in Connecticut when there is no will?
If the decedent is survived by:
Spouse and children* of both decedent and spouse:
- Spouse takes first $100,000 + 1/2 of the remainder. Children* take the other 1/2.
Spouse and children* of decedent, when one or more of the children is not a child of the surviving spouse:
- Spouse takes 1/2. All the children* share the other 1/2 equally.
Spouse and parents (no children or descendants):
- Spouse takes first $100,000 + 3/4 of the remainder. Parents take the other 1/4.
Spouse only (no children or descendants, no parents):
- All goes to the spouse.
Children* only (no spouse):
- All goes to the children.*
Parents (no spouse, no children or descendants):
- All goes to the parents.
Brothers* and sisters* (no spouse, no parents, no children or descendants):
- All goes to the brothers* and sisters.*
Next of kin (no spouse, no children or descendants, no parents, no siblings or descendants of siblings):
- All goes to the next of kin
If there is no next of kin, but there is a stepchild,* he or she will be next in line to take. If there is no stepchild, all goes to the State of Connecticut.
*If a person(s) in this category of heirs has died before the decedent, his or her
descendants take instead
Taken from the Probate Court User Guide Administration of Decedents' Estates which is published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator, State of Connecticut.
For assistance with the probating of a Connecticut estate, contact probate paralegal, Debbie Thibodeau
(203) 586-1445
or click here: CONTACT US
If the decedent is survived by:
Spouse and children* of both decedent and spouse:
- Spouse takes first $100,000 + 1/2 of the remainder. Children* take the other 1/2.
Spouse and children* of decedent, when one or more of the children is not a child of the surviving spouse:
- Spouse takes 1/2. All the children* share the other 1/2 equally.
Spouse and parents (no children or descendants):
- Spouse takes first $100,000 + 3/4 of the remainder. Parents take the other 1/4.
Spouse only (no children or descendants, no parents):
- All goes to the spouse.
Children* only (no spouse):
- All goes to the children.*
Parents (no spouse, no children or descendants):
- All goes to the parents.
Brothers* and sisters* (no spouse, no parents, no children or descendants):
- All goes to the brothers* and sisters.*
Next of kin (no spouse, no children or descendants, no parents, no siblings or descendants of siblings):
- All goes to the next of kin
If there is no next of kin, but there is a stepchild,* he or she will be next in line to take. If there is no stepchild, all goes to the State of Connecticut.
*If a person(s) in this category of heirs has died before the decedent, his or her
descendants take instead
Taken from the Probate Court User Guide Administration of Decedents' Estates which is published by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator, State of Connecticut.
For assistance with the probating of a Connecticut estate, contact probate paralegal, Debbie Thibodeau
(203) 586-1445
or click here: CONTACT US