Connecticut Probate Courts
The Connecticut Probate Court system consists of 54 separate courts spread across the state. Each court handles matters related to the deceased and estates, some family-law issues, conservatorships, and other specific legal decisions. These are statutory courts, with their jurisdiction defined by state law enacted by the General Assembly.
Judges of probate are the only members of the Connecticut state judicial branch who are elected. They are chosen in partisan elections for four-year terms, with elections taking place in the same cycle as gubernatorial elections.
In 2011, a new state law required candidates for judge of probate to be lawyers and members of the Connecticut bar. Previously, anyone could run as a probate judge.
Financial difficulties in Connecticut led to a major overhaul of the system. In 2009, the Probate Court Redistricting Commission recommended changes to reduce the number of judicial districts from 117 to 54, a plan implemented for the 2010 elections.
As of 2025, there are currently elected probate judges across the state. Special elections were ordered on July 1, 2025, to replace judges who will retire in 2026.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:14 (CET).