The Connecticut Probate Court system is a system of 54 individual
probate court
A probate court (sometimes called a surrogate court) is a court that has competence in a jurisdiction to deal with matters of probate and the administration of estates. In some jurisdictions, such courts may be referred to as orphans' courts o ...
s located throughout the state of
Connecticut
Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...
. The jurisdiction of each court extends to the legal affairs of the deceased, estates, some aspects of family law,
conservatorship
Under U.S. law, a conservatorship results from the appointment of a guardian or a protector by a judge to manage the personal or financial affairs of another person who is incapable of fully managing their own affairs due to age or physical or m ...
, and several other matters requiring specific legal decisions. As statutory courts, all jurisdiction and authority is governed by the
state legislature
A state legislature is a Legislature, legislative branch or body of a State (country subdivision), political subdivision in a Federalism, federal system.
Two federations literally use the term "state legislature":
* The legislative branches of ...
.
Elections of judges
Judges of probate are the only members of the state judicial branch elected in Connecticut.
Judges are elected in
partisan
Partisan(s) or The Partisan(s) may refer to:
Military
* Partisan (military), paramilitary forces engaged behind the front line
** Francs-tireurs et partisans, communist-led French anti-fascist resistance against Nazi Germany during WWII
** Ital ...
elections and hold office for a term of four years, their elections held within the same cycle as gubernatorial elections.
Prior to 2011, state law permitted anyone to run as a candidate for judge of probate regardless of previous judicial or legal experience. However, a state law which went into effect on January 5, 2011 now requires candidates for judge of probate to be both a lawyer and a member of the Connecticut bar.
Consolidation of court districts
After operating without much change since 1850, growing financial difficulties in the state and within the probate courts created the need for the system to be overhauled. In the summer of 2009, the Probate Court Redistricting Commission assembled to review the aging court system and make recommendations for decreasing the number of judicial districts from 117. In September 2009, the commission announced its consolidation plan to reduce the number of districts to 54 for the 2010 elections.
Probate districts
This list contains the currently elected judges of probate as of 2025:
Indicates location of the court
Indicates location of satellite office
† Denotes special election due to resignation, retirement, or death of the previous judge
D = Endorsed by the
Democratic Party
R = Endorsed by the
Republican Party
D/R = Endorsed by both parties
See also
*
Courts of Connecticut
References
{{reflist
External links
Connecticut Probate Court websiteConnecticut Probate Court entry
on Judgepedia
Ballotpedia is a nonprofit and nonpartisan online political encyclopedia that covers federal, state, and local politics, elections, and public policy in the United States. The website was founded in 2007. Ballotpedia is sponsored by the Lucy Burn ...
Connecticut state courts
Inheritance
Probate courts in the United States
Courts and tribunals with year of establishment missing