Probate Court

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. Carolyn McCaffrey was elected to serve as Judge of Probate for this district.

Responsibilities

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.

User Friendly Forms

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.