CT estate risk
Intestacy risk in Connecticut
How assets are distributed when there is no will and state default rules control the outcome.
Connecticut intestacy gives the surviving spouse a dollar-based share that varies by parents and descendants, with the remaining estate distributed to relatives by statute.
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If there is no surviving issue or parent, the spouse receives the entire intestate estate.
- If parents survive but no issue, the spouse receives the first $100,000 plus three-fourths of the balance.
- If all issue are also the spouse's, the spouse receives the first $100,000 plus one-half of the balance.
- If any issue is not the spouse's, the spouse receives one-half of the intestate estate.
Questions to consider
Questions to consider in Connecticut
- Who inherits first if there is no will?
- How do spouse and children shares change by scenario?
- What are the most common surprises families face?
State overview
Connecticut intestacy gives the surviving spouse a dollar-based share that varies by parents and descendants, with the remaining estate distributed to relatives by statute.
- If there is no surviving issue or parent, the spouse receives the entire intestate estate.
- If parents survive but no issue, the spouse receives the first $100,000 plus three-fourths of the balance.
- If all issue are also the spouse's, the spouse receives the first $100,000 plus one-half of the balance.
- If any issue is not the spouse's, the spouse receives one-half of the intestate estate.
- When there are no children, remaining intestate property passes to parents, then siblings, then next of kin, then stepchildren.
- Issue includes children who qualify for inheritance under the parent-child rules in the probate code.
Sources
- https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/pub/chap_802b.htm
- https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/intestate-succession-connecticut.html
Background sources
- Uniform Probate Code (2019) - Intestate succession (Article II)
Article II, Part 1 covers intestate succession, spouse/descendant shares, and representation rules.
National sources provide baseline context; state statutes and court rules control in Connecticut.
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