Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Detailed Answer: Identifying Intestate Heirs in Connecticut
When a person dies without a valid will (intestate) in Connecticut, state law under Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-436 governs who inherits the estate. To determine your father’s heirs:
- Confirm Intestacy: Verify there is no valid will or codicil. Contact the probate court in the district where your father lived to check for filed estate documents.
- Understand the Heirship Order: Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-436 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_903.htm#sec_45a-436) establishes this priority:
- Spouse and Issue: The surviving spouse and the decedent’s children (and their descendants).
- Issue Only: If no spouse survives, children inherit equally.
- Parents: If no spouse or children, the estate passes to surviving parents.
- Siblings and Their Issue: Next in line are brothers and sisters, then nieces and nephews.
- Grandparents: If no closer relatives survive.
- More Remote Relatives: As specified further in the statute.
- Gather Vital Records: Collect birth, marriage, and death certificates. These documents establish family relationships and living status.
- Create a Pedigree Chart: Map out all potential heirs—spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, nieces/nephews, and grandparents.
- Consult the Probate Court: File an Application for Appointment of Fiduciary and request the Heirship Determination Form (Form PC-45) from the probate court in your father’s district.
- Submit Documentation: Provide the court with your pedigree chart and copies of vital records. The probate judge or court clerk will review and confirm the legal heirs.
After the court issues a decree naming the heirs, you can proceed with estate administration under Connecticut law. For details on distribution percentages, refer to Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-437 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_903.htm#sec_45a-437).
Helpful Hints
- Start early: Vital record requests may take weeks to process.
- Include adopted and half-siblings: Connecticut law generally treats adopted children the same as biological.
- Use online databases: Connecticut’s Vital Records Office and probate court websites offer searchable resources.
- Consider genealogical assistance if the family tree is complex.
- Consult an estate attorney if disputes or challenges arise among heirs.