Litchfield County Probate Court
Probate matters in Litchfield County are part of the Connecticut Probate Court system. The Probate Court is separate from the Superior Court, even when a family also has a Superior Court divorce, civil, or criminal record. The Probate Court handles decedent estates, wills, administrations, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes, and other matters assigned by statute.
Litchfield Hills Probate Court is a key probate district for Litchfield County towns. The official court page identifies the court as PD-24 and lists Judge Jordan M. Richards, Chief Clerk Tanya M. Matulis, telephone (860) 567-8065, fax (860) 567-2538, hours Monday through Friday 8:30 to 4:30, and address 74 West Street, P.O. Box 505, Litchfield, CT 06759. Towns listed include Canaan, Cornwall, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Thomaston, and Warren.
The Litchfield Hills Probate Court page is the official local source for Litchfield County probate court contact information.
The court page is especially useful because it lists the judge, chief clerk, address, hours, and towns served by the district.
Litchfield Probate Terms
Probate records use terms that are easy to confuse with civil or family court language. These definitions help identify the role a person may have in a Litchfield County probate file.
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor
- The person named to carry out a will after appointment by the court.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will.
- Guardianship
- Court authority over a minor or protected person's care.
- Conservatorship
- Court appointment to manage personal or financial affairs of an adult.
- Fiduciary
- A person with legal duties to act for an estate, trust, or protected person.
Search Litchfield County Probate
The search path starts with venue. Identify the decedent's residence, protected person's residence, trust connection, or other statutory basis for probate venue. Then use the Probate Court locator to identify the correct district. For many Litchfield-area towns, that district is Litchfield Hills Probate Court, but the locator should be used when the town or district is uncertain.
The Connecticut Probate Court locator helps match towns and districts for Litchfield County probate records.
The locator is the best check before filing or requesting copies because Connecticut has multiple probate districts rather than one county probate office.
- Identify the town tied to the estate, protected person, trust, or probate matter.
- Use the Probate Court locator to find the correct district.
- Choose the form category, such as trusts and estates, conservatorship, children's matters, or another probate matter.
- Complete the required PC form and any confidential information sheet.
- File by eFiling when required or available, or contact the Probate Court when paper filing is allowed.
- Track notices, hearing dates, fiduciary appointments, inventory and accounting dates, and final decrees.
Probate Courts in Litchfield County
The official Probate Court directory also lists a Canaan satellite office for Litchfield Hills Probate Court. Use the main court page or directory before mailing filings because satellite-office hours and contact details can change.
Litchfield Hills Probate Court
Judge: Jordan M. Richards
Chief Clerk: Tanya M. Matulis
74 West Street, P.O. Box 505
Litchfield, CT 06759
(860) 567-8065
Fax: (860) 567-2538
Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30
Canaan Satellite Office
100 Pease Street, P.O. Box 849
Canaan, CT 06018-0849
(860) 824-7012
Fax: (860) 824-7428
Monday through Thursday, 9:00 to 4:00
Litchfield Probate eFiling
Connecticut Probate eFiling allows users to initiate a case, file documents in a pending case, serve documents on other eFilers, receive notices, and view the court's file. If a case began on paper, Probate Court guidance says later filings can be submitted electronically. Attorneys have generally been required to eFile in probate matters since January 1, 2020, while self-represented parties may use eFiling after registration and court access are granted.
The Connecticut Probate Courts eFiling overview explains the statewide electronic filing system.
The overview helps separate eFiling access from public searching, because registered access may depend on party status and court approval.
The Probate Court eFiling portal is the entry point for registered probate eFiling users.
The portal should be used only after identifying the right Probate Court district and gathering the required forms and confidential sheets.
Probate Search and Filing Fields
The Probate Court eFiling and form process uses case and party information rather than a simple countywide public search box. Exact fields vary by case type, but the researched inventory supports these common fields.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing location | Dropdown or search | Yes to initiate | Select the proper Probate Court; use the locator if unsure. |
| Case type or matter | Dropdown | Yes | Estates, trusts, conservatorship, children's matters, or other probate matters. |
| Party, decedent, or respondent name | Text | Often | Exact name fields vary by form. |
| Probate district | Dropdown | Yes | Litchfield Hills Probate Court PD-24 for listed towns. |
| Upload form or PDF | File upload | Conditional | Fillable PC forms can be completed, signed, saved, and uploaded. |
| Payment | Electronic payment | Conditional | E-filing standards allow electronic check, debit card, and major credit cards. |
Probate Forms and Fees
The Connecticut Probate Court forms list provides statewide probate forms, including fillable PDFs for many matter types.
The forms list is important because some petitions require a separate Confidential Information sheet that should be filed with the underlying petition.
Probate fees vary by matter. The Probate Court fees and expenses calculators provide estimates for filing fees, decedents' estates, accounts and financial reports, copies, and document recording. The calculators are estimates, so the exact fee for a Litchfield County probate matter should be confirmed with the court.
| Fee Tool | What It Estimates | Use Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fees calculator | Estimated filing costs for probate matters | Confirm exact amount with the court. |
| Decedents' estates calculator | Estate-related estimates | Depends on estate facts and filings. |
| Accounts and financial reports calculator | Fees tied to account or report filings | May depend on case type and value. |
| Copies and recording | Estimated copy or recording expenses | Confirm certified-copy needs before ordering. |
What Probate Records Show
Litchfield County probate records may show a will, petition, fiduciary appointment, inventory, creditor notice, account, decree, bond, distribution, guardianship order, conservatorship order, name-change filing, trust matter, or hearing notice. Not every file has the same contents, and not every document is public online. Registered parties may see more through eFiling than a general public user.
For older paper-filed matters, contact the Probate Court clerk. If a file is active, the clerk can explain request steps, access limits, copy options, and whether the person must register for electronic access or submit a paper request.
Restricted Probate Records
Probate access is not all-or-nothing. Conservatorship records may contain medical, financial, or capacity details. Children's matters and guardianships may involve minor information. Confidential Information sheets may be required for petitions and are not meant to be treated as ordinary public attachments. Some files may have public docket elements while sensitive documents are redacted, sealed, or limited to parties and authorized users.
Use direct Probate Court contact when a file may involve a protected person, minor, medical issue, sealed filing, or confidential sheet. Public eFiling access should not be assumed simply because a probate matter exists.
Public Record Search
Sponsored Results