Court of Probate

North Central Connecticut Probate District
Timothy R.E. Keeney
Judge of Probate
 
820 Enfield Street, 2^nd Floor
Enfield, CT 06082
 
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9 AM to 5 PM
Routine: (860) 253-6305 Fax: (860) 253-6388

Effective January 5, 2011, the Probate Court Districts of Enfield and Stafford will consolidate to become the North Central Connecticut Probate District, serving the Towns of Enfield, Somers, Stafford and Union. Timothy R.E. Keeney was elected to serve as Judge of Probate for this district. The North Central Connecticut Probate District will be open to serve the residents of all four towns in our offices at 820 Enfield Street, Second Floor, Enfield from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents of Stafford and Union may file documents and/or speak to a staff member in person at the Stafford Town Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

The Probate Court serves its residents in a variety of areas according to jurisdiction set out in the Connecticut General Statutes, which includes, but is not limited to, overseeing the administration of decedent’s estates and trusts, appointing conservators and guardians, name changes, and adoptions.

Probate courts have often been called "the people’s courts" because they offer simple, direct access to legal proceedings. Convenience and efficiency are the hallmarks of the probate court. The majority of uncontested matters are heard within four weeks of the time an application is filed. The atmosphere at the hearing is informal. Therefore, hearings are held in a conference room, and the judge does not preside from a bench or wear a black robe.

Probate court forms are designed to be “user-friendly,” and probate court staff may offer limited assistance to people completing required forms and reports. In the case of complex estates or complicated family matters, however, an attorney should be retained.

A wide variety of informational resources, probate court forms, and estate tax forms are available at the court or on the internet using the links provided below.

• Connecticut Probate Court System information.
  [http://www.jud.state.ct.us/probate/Default.htm]
   
• Probate Court forms.
  [http://www.jud2.ct.gov/webforms/default.htm#PROBATE]
   
• Estate tax and succession tax information and forms.
  [http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?a=1509&q=445090]
   
• Booklets regarding decedent’s estates, guardianship, conservatorship, trusts, termination of parental rights and adoption.
  [http://www.jud.state.ct.us/probate/faq.html]
   
• Ways to help children.
  [http://www.ct.gov/dcf/cwp/view.asp?a=2556&q=314396]