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Best Probate Lawyers in New Haven, CT

Our Recommended Top 10

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored New Haven Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

37Reviewed

26Curated

10Top Picks

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Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

195 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Jeffrey Hellman LLC is a small firm of litigation attorneys based in New Haven who have been serving clients in the surrounding communities for more than a quarter of a century. Attorney Hellman focuses his probate practice exclusively on litigation. His clients have included executors accused of breaching their fiduciary duties, families with concerns over conservatorship, and potential heirs who believe the decedent was unduly influenced or mentally incapacitated when they prepared their will.

  • Wills
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jeffrey Hellman - PrincipalActive35 yrs

131 Dwight Street, New Haven, CT 06511

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.3 (6)
Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Scott D. Rosenberg is a private practice founded by Mr. Rosenberg, a probate attorney in New Haven who has years of experience representing clients in probate matters. The attorney's services include assisting the executor and helping with the appointment of an administrator in cases where no will exists. Additional services include advising on the liquidation of the estate. Attorney Rosenberg is a 2007 Boston University School of Law graduate. licensed to practice in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

  • Trusts
  • Wills

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Scott Rosenberg - PrincipalActive15 yrs

3127 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (28)
Facebook
4.7 (24)
Avvo
5.0 (21)

Why choose this provider?

Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari LLC Attorneys at Law helps New Haven residents develop estate plans and work through probate. Its attorneys help individuals draft wills according to their objectives and assist in revising existing wills to accommodate their current circumstances. They also offer litigation representation for probate-related matters, including contests and disputes regarding legal documents like advance health care directives and trusts. Louis Crisci Jr., one of the firm's attorneys who primarily practices estate planning and probate, has over 20 years of legal experience.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
John Gesmonde - MemberActive51 yrs

30 Fountain Street, New Haven, CT 06515

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Pellegrino and Pellegrino Attorneys at Law guides New Haven residents through the probate process. Robert L. Pellegrino, one of the firm's attorneys, assists clients with the different areas of probate and estate administration, including the distribution of individuals' assets, debt payment, and probate court representation. He works with clients in drafting wills and powers of attorney. Pellegrino has been practicing law since 1982, focusing on probate law, personal injury, and real estate. The attorney is a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate
  • Estate Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Robert Pellegrino - PartnerActive42 yrs

51 Elm Street, New Haven, CT 06510

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Cooper, Whitney & Francois is a full-service firm of probate lawyers in New Haven who represent clients throughout Connecticut. The firm has been offering probate services since it was founded in 1970. Its attorneys can offer the full range of services, from guiding the executor through the legal processes to taking on the role of the administrator if there is no executor. Additionally, they ensure the full estate is collected, its taxes filed, and creditors paid.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
James Whitney - PartnerActive56 yrs

475 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (4)
Facebook
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

The Pellegrino Law Firm PC is a full-service law firm founded in 1929 with probate attorneys in New Haven who have significant experience helping executors and families fulfill the final wishes of their loved ones. The firm regularly deals with estates of all sizes. Its services include petitioning the correct probate court to start the process and ensuring all legal necessities are completed within timescales. The Pellegrino Law Firm PC also practices estate planning, trust administration, and business law.

  • Probate Litigation

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michael Saffer - PartnerActive52 yrs

350 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Jacobs & Dow LLC is a well-established firm of experienced litigation attorneys located in New Haven who represent clients in courts throughout Connecticut. The firm's probate practice is focused exclusively on cases that involve litigation. The attorneys have successfully represented clients in Superior Court who believed their loved ones were unduly influenced when preparing their wills and executors accused of breaching their fiduciary duties by heirs and beneficiaries. The firm also practices criminal defense.

  • Estate Taxes

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
William Dow - PartnerActive55 yrs

568 Washington Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (13)
Avvo
3.7 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Fischer Fischer LLC, Attorneys at Law, is a firm that serves New Haven and the surrounding communities. Founded in 1959, the practice is staffed by legal professionals that have more than 40 years of combined experience in the field. It handles probate and estate planning, including wills. The firm helps clients appoint an individual or an organization to manage their affairs by drafting a power of attorney. It also provides legal counsel for residential real estate closing and refinancing.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
James Fischer - PartnerActive44 yrs

271 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Established in 1963, Brenner, Saltzman & Wallman LLP, provides a team-oriented and collaborative approach in serving clients in and around New Haven. It offers probate administration and state planning services, such as selecting fiduciaries, establishing trusts, and organizing assets. It also represents clients in corporate and business law, real estate, health care, employment law, land use, and litigation. Principal attorney Donald W. Anderson joined the firm in 1981. He can also practice law in New York.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Marc Wallman - PartnerActive58 yrs
Stephen Saltzman - PartnerActive61 yrs

400 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Clendenen & Shea, LLC is dedicated to offering efficient and sophisticated services to New Haven clients by handling trusts, wills, and estate planning, business counseling, and real estate closings. It drafts living wills, living trusts, healthcare agent appointments, and powers of attorney. It represents beneficiaries, trustees, and executors in probate hearings and estate administration. The firm was founded in 1973. Its lawyers have various backgrounds and a combined experience of more than 100 years.

  • Wills

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
William Clendenen - Founder and PrincipalActive57 yrs
Patrick Clendenen - PartnerActive31 yrs
Kevin Shea - PartnerActive31 yrs

Compare our Top Probate Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Law Offices of Jeffrey Hellman LLC
195 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510
Law Office of Scott D. Rosenberg
131 Dwight Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. Attorneys at Law
3127 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518
Pellegrino and Pellegrino Attorneys at Law
30 Fountain Street, New Haven, CT 06515
Cooper, Whitney & Francois
51 Elm Street, New Haven, CT 06510
The Pellegrino Law Firm P.C.
475 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511
Jacobs & Dow, LLC
350 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Fischer Fischer LLC Attorneys at Law
568 Washington Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516
Brenner, Saltzman & Wallman LLP
271 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511
The Law Offices of Clendenen & Shea, LLC
400 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

New Haven, CT Probate FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in New Haven, Connecticut?

    (203) 946-6316 is the non-emergency contact number of the New Haven Police Department.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in New Haven, Connecticut?

    To request a copy of a New Haven police report or body-worn camera footage, fill out the request form at https://newhaven.seamlessdocs.com/f/NHPDRRF1. Mail it to the New Haven Department of Police Service at 1 Union Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519, or present a printed copy to the front desk sergeant in person. You can also fax the form to (203) 946-6274. Provide as much information as possible, including full names, date and time of the incident, location, and report number. Some incidents may not be releasable, and information may be redacted. For more information, call the Records Division at (203) 946-6259.

  • When should you file estate tax returns in New Haven?

    Regardless of the amount of tax due, the executor in New Haven is required to submit a Connecticut Estate Tax Report within six months after the decedent's passing. For estates valued at $2,000,000 or higher, the return goes to the Department of Revenue Services, while estates below that amount are filed with the probate court. For federal estate tax, a return is due within nine months for estates valued at $2,000,000 or more, with taxable estates filing with the IRS and others with the Department of Revenue Services.

  • Do you need to pay legal fees upfront for probate if a family member dies in New Haven?

    Typically, no. During the probate process, the court costs are covered by the estate. Legal fees, on the other hand, are usually paid at the conclusion of the probate period rather than upfront.

  • Does the absence of a will affect the probate timeline in New Haven?

    Yes. The lack of a will can lead to an extended probate process in New Haven. Without a will, the court assumes a greater responsibility in overseeing the distribution of the estate. A judge appoints an administrator to manage the process, and state laws dictate how the assets are divided among the rightful heirs. The court's involvement in these cases often leads to a lengthier settlement period, as the court ensures a fair and lawful distribution of the estate.

  • Is it possible to avoid probate entirely in New Haven?

    Yes, it is possible to avoid probate entirely in New Haven County through various estate planning strategies. One approach is establishing a living trust, which enables assets to be transferred directly to beneficiaries without undergoing probate. An attorney can also offer advice on structuring assets, including real estate, to facilitate seamless transfer to spouses or children, further streamlining the probate process.

  • Can the executor make advanced distributions before the final accounting is approved in New Haven?

    Yes, the executor has the authority to make advanced distributions before the final accounting is approved in New Haven. However, the executor must ensure that enough assets are retained to cover expenses, claims, and taxes. If there is a shortfall in the estate's funds as a result of advanced distributions, the executor may be held personally liable for the deficit.

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