Connecticut

At a Glance

Filing and registration of death certificates in Connecticut.

A death certificate must be filed with the registrar of vital statistics in the town where the death occurred. This must be done not later than five business days after death for paper certificates, and not later than three calendar days for electronic filings, to obtain a burial permit. The funeral director or embalmer in charge is responsible for completing and filing the death certificate.

Who can order copies.

Anyone at least 18 years old can purchase a certified copy of a Connecticut death certificate. The decedent's social security number on the certificate is only accessible to the decedent's spouse or next of kin, requiring proof of identity and relationship.

• –Connecticut Department of Public Health, Vital Records Unit: https://portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/death-certificates
• –Cost: approximately $20 per certified copy
• –Online ordering available through VitalChek (additional fees may apply).

How do I get a death certificate in Connecticut?

Order certified copies from Connecticut's vital records office; this section's source link is the official process. The funeral home or cremation provider usually orders the first copies for you. Order at least 10: banks, insurers, and agencies each want their own certified copy.

How much does a death certificate cost in Connecticut?

$20 per certified copy in Connecticut, as shown above. Additional-copy pricing varies; the official source linked in this section has the current fee schedule.

At a Glance

When probate is required.

In Connecticut, a full probate process is generally required if the deceased person's solely owned assets (probate estate) exceed $40,000. If the total value of personal property does not exceed $40,000 and there is no solely owned real estate, a small estate affidavit (Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration PC-212) may be used.

If you die without a will.

If a person dies in Connecticut without a valid will (intestate), their property is distributed according to state law. The distribution depends on surviving family members:

• –If there is a surviving spouse and no surviving issue (children, grandchildren) or parents, the spouse inherits the entire intestate estate.
• –If there is a surviving spouse, no surviving issue, but surviving parent(s), the spouse inherits the first $100,000 plus three-quarters of the balance of the intestate estate.
• –If there is a surviving spouse and surviving issue, all of whom are also issue of the surviving spouse, the spouse inherits the first $100,000 plus one-half of the balance of the intestate estate.
• –If there is a surviving spouse and surviving issue, one or more of whom are not issue of the surviving spouse, the spouse inherits one-half of the intestate estate.

Avoiding probate.

Common methods to avoid probate in Connecticut include establishing a revocable living trust, utilizing beneficiary designations on accounts (such as Payable-on-Death or Transfer-on-Death), and holding property in joint ownership with rights of survivorship. These assets can pass directly to beneficiaries outside of the probate court process.

How long does probate take in Connecticut?

A straightforward Connecticut probate typically runs several months to over a year, as shown in this section. Contested wills, missing heirs, or real property in other states stretch it well past that.

What is the small-estate limit in Connecticut?

$40,000. Estates under that figure can use the simplified process or affidavit covered above instead of full probate.

Do I need a probate attorney in Connecticut?

Not always. If the estate qualifies for the simplified process covered above, many people handle it without a lawyer. Hire one for full probate, a contested will, or property in more than one state. Before you hire anyone, know the fee structures: hourly, flat, and (in a few states) statutory percentages. Our probate attorney cost guide covers what each should run you.

Does Connecticut allow transfer-on-death deeds?

No. Connecticut has no transfer-on-death deed statute. Connecticut has no TOD deed (the legislature has repeatedly declined to adopt one, most recently in 2026); a living trust or joint ownership with survivorship does the same job here.

Source: legislative record ↗

Die without a will in Connecticut and this law picks your heirs.

If you die intestate (without a valid will) in Connecticut, Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 45a-437 to 45a-439 decides who inherits everything a will would have covered. The shares depend on exactly who survives you: spouse, children, parents, siblings. What you told people you wanted does not matter. Only a signed will changes these defaults.

What your spouse gets.

What your spouse inherits depends on who else survives you. The four common family shapes:

• –Spouse only (no descendants or parents): entire estate
• –Spouse + parents (no descendants): first $100,000 plus 3/4 of the balance; parents take the rest
• –Spouse + joint descendants: first $100,000 plus 1/2 of the balance; children take the rest
• –Spouse + blended family: spouse takes 1/2 of the estate, no lump sum; the decedent's children take the other half
• –Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 45a-437, 45a-439

Children's shares.

The children take the whole estate in equal shares, and a deceased child's descendants take that child's share by representation.

No spouse, no children: the line of succession.

After children come the parents, then siblings and their descendants, then next of kin in equal degree (no representation past siblings' descendants), then: unusually, stepchildren and their descendants; only after that does property escheat to the state under § 45a-452.

At a Glance

What Connecticut requires.

In Connecticut, an Advance Health Care Directive typically combines a Living Will and the Appointment of a Health Care Representative (Healthcare Power of Attorney). The document must be signed by the declarant in the presence of two witnesses. Neither witness may be the appointed health care representative, nor can they be under the age of 19.

Healthcare power of attorney.

Connecticut law allows individuals to appoint a Health Care Representative through an Advance Health Care Directive. This person is authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. This appointment is often part of a combined advance directive document.

POLST / MOLST forms.

Connecticut recognizes Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) forms. Unlike advance directives, which are for future medical decisions, MOLST forms are medical orders for patients with serious advanced illnesses who may die within 1-2 years. They are completed by a healthcare professional and reflect a patient's current wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments.

Where do I get Connecticut's advance directive form?

The controlling law is Connecticut General Statutes, linked as this section's source. Most people use the free statutory form: Connecticut's health department, hospital systems, and state bar publish fillable versions that match it. You do not need to buy one, and you do not need a lawyer to complete it.

Does Connecticut require a notary or witnesses for an advance directive?

Connecticut requires 2 adult witnesses; notarization is not required. Anyone 19 or older of sound mind can make one.

At a Glance

Cremation rules in Connecticut.

Connecticut law requires a waiting period of at least 48 hours after death before cremation can occur. A rigid container is required for cremation, but a casket is not. Authorization for cremation typically comes from the legally authorized person, usually the next of kin.

Green burial and alternatives.

Connecticut allows green burial, which focuses on minimizing environmental impact. This typically involves avoiding embalming, using biodegradable caskets or shrouds, and direct earth burial. Other alternatives like human composting and alkaline hydrolysis are not explicitly regulated or widely available as standard practices in Connecticut, but green burial is gaining traction.

• –Green burial is permitted and growing in availability in Connecticut cemeteries.
• –Embalming is not required by Connecticut law, except in specific cases of communicable disease.
• –Home burial may be permitted, but local zoning ordinances and health department regulations should be consulted.

Funeral home regulations.

Funeral homes in Connecticut are licensed by the state. They are subject to regulations regarding price disclosure, including the FTC Funeral Rule, which requires them to provide an itemized price list to consumers. The Connecticut Department of Public Health oversees funeral service licensing and regulations.

At a Glance

Connecticut has an estate tax with a high exemption.

Connecticut imposes a state estate tax. For deaths occurring in 2026, the Connecticut estate tax exemption amount is $15 million per person. Estates valued above this threshold are subject to a flat tax rate of 12% on the amount exceeding the exemption. This exemption is aligned with the federal estate tax exemption for 2026.

Connecticut does not have an inheritance tax.

Connecticut does not impose an inheritance tax. This means beneficiaries receiving assets from a deceased person's estate in Connecticut do not pay a state tax on their inheritance. This is distinct from the state's estate tax, which is levied on the total value of the deceased person's estate before distribution.

Federal estate tax.

The federal estate tax applies to estates over $15 million per person (2026), $30 million for married couples. This is separate from any state estate or inheritance tax. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) made the higher exemption permanent, so the drop to roughly $7 million once scheduled under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act never took effect.

Does Connecticut have an estate tax?

Yes. Connecticut levies its own estate tax, with a state exemption of $15 million and rates of 12%. The federal estate tax can also apply, but only to estates over $15 million per person (2026).

Does Connecticut have an inheritance tax?

No. Connecticut does not tax inheritances. Heirs owe no state tax on what they receive, though the estate itself can owe state estate tax before anything is distributed.

What is the federal estate tax exemption for 2026?

$15 million per person, $30 million for a married couple, indexed for inflation. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) made the higher exemption permanent. Estates below the threshold owe no federal estate tax.

At a Glance

Registering as a donor in Connecticut.

You can register as an organ and tissue donor in Connecticut through several methods. The most common ways are online via the Donate Life Connecticut registry or when obtaining or renewing your Connecticut driver's license or ID card at the DMV.

• –Donate Life Connecticut online registry: https://registerme.org/campaign/ct
• –Register at the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when applying for or renewing a driver's license or state ID.
• –You can also indicate your wishes on an advance directive, though official registration is recommended.

Your family cannot override your decision.

In Connecticut, as in all states, a registered organ donor decision is legally binding. Your family cannot override it. However, in practice, organ procurement organizations often consult families. Make your wishes known to your family to avoid conflict.