Short answer. Up to $40,000; no notary on the official form; through a court office.
At a glance
- Limit
- Personal property in the person's name alone up to $40,000. Solely owned real estate in the state rules the procedure out; survivorship real estate doesn't, and survivorship assets over $40,000 don't count against the limit.
- Wait after death
- No waiting period: the Probate Courts' form PC-212 asks for the date of death and that no estate petition is pending, and sets no minimum time before filing.
- Notary
- Signed under penalty of false statement; the form has no notary block.
- Where it goes
- Filed with the probate court for the district where the person lived, with a copy of the death certificate; the judge authorizes the transfers.
- Official form
- PC-212, Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration. Filed with PC-212CI (confidential information) and, if assets remain after expenses and claims, PC-212A (request for order of distribution). Open it
- Simplified procedure
- Affidavit in lieu of probate of will or administration. The small estate procedure itself: a probate court process, not a document handed to a bank.
- Surviving spouse
- The surviving spouse can be the petitioner; if there is none, a next of kin.
In the official wording
Limit
Handling an estate from far away? Estate paperwork help near where the estate is.
"the total value of all of the decedent's personal property does not exceed $40,000"
Notary
"The representations made in this affidavit are made under penalty of false statement."
Where it goes
"The petition must be filed in the court for the probate district where the decedent resided."
Spouse
"The petitioner is the surviving spouse of the decedent."
Get it notarized online today
Online notary: open now until 9 PM ET · sessions by appointment · times confirmed by email
A New Jersey notary can notarize this with you on a video call, wherever you are in the U.S. $50 for the session, $10 for each extra signer. Any other fee shows in the booking form before you confirm. Open 7 am to 9 pm ET, every day, by appointment.
What you need
- A valid government photo ID
- A computer or phone with a camera
- The unsigned document
Our certificate states the act was performed using communication technology, as New Jersey law requires. What it must say
Most U.S. recipients accept a remotely notarized document; check with whoever will receive it. What to ask them · Several signers
Three example estates
For a death on November 13, 2025, the stated limit gives:
- $10,000: under the stated limit. See why
- $36,000: under the stated limit. See why
- $60,000: over the stated limit. See why
Your own numbers: open the checker for this state.
Worth knowing
The probate courts' guide says a Connecticut estate tax return is required for a small estate too.
Official sources
- Connecticut Probate Courts form PC-212, Affidavit in Lieu of Probate of Will/Administration (rev. 07/23) (checked November 2026)
- Connecticut Probate Courts: User guide, administration of decedents' estates (PDF) (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Each holder may still ask for its own form, and a lawyer can confirm whether the estate qualifies.
Common questions
What is the small estate limit in Connecticut?
Up to $40,000. Personal property in the person's name alone up to $40,000. Solely owned real estate in the state rules the procedure out; survivorship real estate doesn't, and survivorship assets over $40,000 don't count against the limit.
How long after a death can the Connecticut affidavit be used?
No waiting period: the Probate Courts' form PC-212 asks for the date of death and that no estate petition is pending, and sets no minimum time before filing.
Does a Connecticut small estate affidavit need a notary?
Not under the official form. Signed under penalty of false statement; the form has no notary block.
Is it filed with a court in Connecticut?
Yes. Filed with the probate court for the district where the person lived, with a copy of the death certificate; the judge authorizes the transfers.
Can real estate pass this way in Connecticut?
Owning it rules the procedure out.
Is there anything for a surviving spouse in Connecticut?
The surviving spouse can be the petitioner; if there is none, a next of kin.
All states: small estate affidavit by state · Colorado · Massachusetts · Small estate affidavit: signing and notary checks