Short answer

Under Connecticut law, you may be able to get reimbursed for mortgage payments you made to preserve estate property, but reimbursement depends on who made the payments (a personal representative, an appointed fiduciary, or a private individual), whether you followed probate procedures, whether the payments were reasonable and necessary, and whether the probate court approves the reimbursement. To maximize the chance of reimbursement, document everything, seek court approval when possible, and report the payments in the estate administration accounting.

Detailed answer — how reimbursement generally works in Connecticut

Start with the roles. A personal representative (executor or administrator) who has been appointed by the probate court acts on behalf of the estate and can use estate funds to pay debts, taxes, and necessary costs of administration. If the appointed fiduciary pays the mortgage from estate assets, those payments are typically considered administration expenses and are paid out according to the estate’s priorities. The personal representative should record those payments in the estate inventory and in interim and final accounts the court reviews.

If a private individual (for example, a family member or beneficiary) makes mortgage payments before a personal representative is appointed or without court approval, reimbursement becomes more complicated. Connecticut probate courts can allow reimbursement of necessary and reasonable expenditures made to preserve estate property, but they will require proof that the payments were made to protect the estate and that the request is fair to creditors and beneficiaries.

Key legal principles

• Priority of expenses: Reasonable and necessary expenses of administration (including measures to prevent waste or loss of estate property) are generally paid out of the estate before distributions to beneficiaries.
• Secured creditor rights: A mortgage is a secured debt. The mortgage lender’s rights to repayment and foreclosure generally remain intact. Paying mortgage installments can preserve the lender’s interest and avoid foreclosure, which in turn preserves estate value.
• Court oversight: The probate court supervises estate administration. Reimbursement to an appointed fiduciary or to a third party is often subject to court approval as part of account settlement.

Typical scenarios

Hypothetical 1 — Appointed personal representative paid the mortgage from estate funds: Reimbursement is straightforward because the fiduciary used estate money. The payments should be reflected in inventory and accounting. The probate court will review the accounts; reasonable administration expenses are allowed and paid out prior to distributions.

Hypothetical 2 — A family member paid the mortgage before appointment to stop a foreclosure: The family member can petition the probate court for reimbursement or approval of those payments as necessary expenses to preserve the estate. The court will examine records, consider the estate’s ability to repay, and balance that request against creditor claims and beneficiary interests.

Hypothetical 3 — Payments made without notice and not clearly necessary: The court may be less likely to allow reimbursement. The person seeking payment will need strong documentation that the payments prevented loss of value and were reasonable.

What the court will want to see

• Proof of the mortgage payment amounts and dates (canceled checks, bank statements, lender receipts).
• Evidence the payments protected estate value (foreclosure notices, communications from the lender, appraisals showing the risk of loss).
• Receipts for other related expenses (insurance, repairs, utility payments) if claimed.
• A clear accounting showing where the estate stands after the proposed reimbursement.

Connecticut statutes and probate rules guide estate administration and the court’s authority to approve fiduciary accounts and allow payment of administration expenses. For general reference to Connecticut law and probate procedures, see the Connecticut General Assembly and Connecticut Judicial Branch probate resources: https://www.cga.ct.gov/ and https://www.jud.ct.gov/.

How to pursue reimbursement — step-by-step

1. Stop and document. Preserve all mortgage statements, bank records, lender notices, and any correspondence showing why payments were needed.
2. Seek appointment quickly. If you want to be treated as a fiduciary, petition the probate court to be appointed personal representative. An appointed PR has clearer authority to use estate funds.
3. Ask for interim relief if foreclosure is imminent. A probate judge can sometimes authorize limited payment or relief to prevent irreparable loss.
4. Include payments in fiduciary accounts. If you are the personal representative, list the mortgage payments in inventory and interim/final accounts submitted to the probate court.
5. If you paid personally, file a petition in probate asking for allowance and reimbursement. Provide records and a clear explanation of necessity.
6. Be prepared for objections. Creditors or beneficiaries may object. The court will resolve disputes in a probate account hearing.

Practical consequences and tips

• If the estate has limited assets, the court may deny or limit reimbursement to protect creditor rights and fairness among beneficiaries.
• Mortgage payments that only protect a secured lender’s interest (and not the estate’s value) may be treated differently. The court will weigh whether the payment actually preserved net value for beneficiaries.
• Obtain written approval from the probate court before making large or ongoing payments whenever possible. Pre-approval reduces disputes later.

Helpful hints

• Keep originals and copies of every payment record and lender communication.
• Get a foreclosure status letter from the lender showing deadlines or notices; this strengthens a claim that payments were necessary.
• Act quickly to get a probate appointment if you intend to manage the property or pay bills from estate funds.
• Ask the probate court for interim approval if foreclosure or other imminent harm threatens estate property.
• Talk to a Connecticut probate attorney early. An attorney can help prepare petitions, accounts, and negotiate with creditors and beneficiaries.
• Remember taxes and insurance — paying these can also be necessary to preserve estate value and are often allowed as administration expenses.
• If you aren’t appointed as personal representative, consider an agreement in writing with beneficiaries before paying large sums; then present that agreement to the court when seeking reimbursement.