Omliva organizes practical information. This guide is general information for the United States, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice.
A short note before you start
This guide is general information for Connecticut, not legal, tax, financial, or medical advice. The law sits mainly in Title 45a, Chapter 802h, but each probate district handles filing locally, so confirm current forms with the court clerk or an elder law attorney. For steps common across states, see how do you get a conservatorship.
What is a conservatorship in Connecticut?
A conservatorship in Connecticut is a Probate Court proceeding giving a court-appointed conservator legal authority over some or all of an adult's personal or financial decisions, because that adult, called the respondent before the hearing, is found unable to manage those affairs, or has voluntarily asked for help1. Once appointed, the respondent is called the "conserved person." An order can be narrow, limited to a single account, or broad, depending on the evidence.
Conservator of the person vs. conservator of the estate, voluntary vs. involuntary
Connecticut splits authority into two roles, held by one person or two. A conservator of the person supervises personal affairs: food, clothing, shelter, health care, and safety. A conservator of the estate supervises finances1.
There are also two paths in. An involuntary conservatorship requires the court to first find the respondent incapable. A voluntary conservatorship lets an adult who still has capacity file PC-301 and ask the court to appoint someone, usually of their choosing, with no incapacity finding, and end it anytime with 30 days' notice1,8.
Who can file, and who can serve as conservator?
Any person alleging that an adult is incapable of managing their affairs may file PC-300; the petitioner need not be a relative1. Filing a fraudulent or malicious petition is a crime9. The court weighs the proposed conservator's knowledge of the person's preferences, ability to do the job, cost, and conflicts of interest1. If no suitable family member or friend is available, the court can appoint a professional conservator or, in some elder abuse cases, the Commissioner of Social Services14.
What are the steps to get a conservatorship in Connecticut?
The table follows the order in Title 45a, Chapter 802h. Each probate district schedules filings locally, so timing varies even though the requirements are the same statewide.
| Step | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check alternatives | Confirm a power of attorney won't meet the need | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
| 2. File the petition | File PC-300 where the respondent lives or is located | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
| 3. Pay the filing fee | $250, payable by the petitioner unless found indigent | CGS Section 45a-106a, checked 2026-09-25 |
| 4. Medical evidence | Physician exam within 45 days of the hearing, unless waived | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
| 5. Notice and attorney | Respondent served 10+ days before the hearing; attorney appointed if needed | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
| 6. Hearing | Held within 30 days of the petition; respondent must attend | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
| 7. Findings | Clear and convincing evidence of incapacity, least restrictive means | CGS Section 45a-650, checked 2026-09-25 |
| 8. Bond and order | Bond posted if required; order defines the conservator's duties | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
What does a conservatorship cost in Connecticut?
The filing fee for a petition, and most later motions in the same case, is $2506. Beyond that, budget for the physician's evaluation, an attorney if hired, and a bond premium if required. When indigent, the state pays instead: $58 an hour for a court-appointed attorney, $52 an hour for a professional conservator, subject to case maximums such as $1,200 for the first six months outside a nursing home1. Otherwise, a paid professional's fee needs court approval; a relative typically charges nothing. The petitioner initially covers filing costs but may be reimbursed from the estate1.
What rights does the respondent keep?
The conserved person keeps every right not expressly assigned to the conservator, limited to the "least restrictive means of intervention" that meets their needs while preserving the greatest independence possible1,10. During the case, the respondent keeps procedural rights: notice, the right to be present, an attorney (court-appointed if indigent), and the right to have the court weigh their preferences and prior arrangements before appointing anyone1.
What happens after the court appoints a conservator?
Appointment starts an ongoing set of court obligations, not the end of the case.
| Duty | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| File estate inventory | Within 2 months of appointment | CGS Section 45a-655, checked 2026-09-25 |
| File first financial report | Within 1 year of appointment | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
| File later financial reports | At least every 3 years, more often if the court directs | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
| File conservator of the person's report | At least annually, using Conservator's Report (PC-371) | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
| Court reviews the conservatorship | About 1 year after appointment, then at least every 3 years | CGS Section 45a-660, checked 2026-09-25 |
| File final account, if terminated | Within 2 months of termination | Connecticut Probate Courts, checked 2026-09-25 |
A conservator of the estate also needs prior court approval for certain actions: changing residence, placement in long-term care, selling real estate, making gifts, or consenting to psychiatric medication1.
Is there an emergency or temporary conservatorship in Connecticut?
Yes. Anyone with sufficient interest in the respondent's welfare may petition for a temporary conservator, arranging a physician exam within three days of filing, unless waived1. After notice and appointment of an attorney, the court holds a hearing within seven days; if delay itself would cause irreparable harm, the court may appoint without a hearing (ex parte) and hold one within three days, notifying the respondent within 48 hours1. The court must find, by clear and convincing evidence, incapacity, irreparable harm without intervention, and least restrictive means. The appointment expires 30 days later, extendable once, never longer than 60 days total1.
What are the alternatives to conservatorship in Connecticut?
Because courts must use the least restrictive means available, rule these out first10:
- A durable power of attorney for finances, signed while the person still has capacity15. See power of attorney versus conservatorship.
- A health care representative or advance directive naming someone to make medical decisions.
- A representative payee arrangement for Social Security or VA benefits, covering only those payments.
- Advance designation of a future conservator and successor, in a signed document with the same formalities as a will1.
What should go in a family guide about a conservatorship?
If a conservatorship is in place, or may be needed, keep this where the family can find it:
- The probate district and docket number
- The conservator's name and contact information, and whether they cover the person, estate, or both
- A copy of the court order defining the conservator's duties
- The bond company name and policy number, if posted
- The financial report and review due dates, and where they're filed
- Any power of attorney or advance conservator designation signed before the case
This is the kind of information a family guide, such as the one Omliva helps families build, keeps in one place. See letters of conservatorship for more on that kind of proof-of-authority document.
What mistakes do families commonly make?
- Assuming another state's terminology or rules apply, rather than checking Title 45a or the local probate court.
- Filing without documenting why a power of attorney won't work, since less restrictive options must be considered first10.
- Missing the two-month inventory deadline or the one-year, then three-year, reporting cycle, which can trigger an audit or removal1.
- Filing in the wrong probate district: the case belongs where the respondent lives, not the petitioner.
- Not budgeting for the evaluation, an attorney, and a bond premium beyond the $250 fee.
- Forgetting that firearms in the home must be secured or transferred once an involuntary conservator is appointed1.
When to get professional help
Bring in an elder law attorney before filing if the case is likely contested, the respondent owns out-of-state property, the estate is complex, or a power of attorney might work instead. Get help immediately if the situation meets Connecticut's standard for a temporary conservator, since that process can move within days.
Printable conservatorship checklist
Frequently asked questions
How much does a conservatorship cost in Connecticut?
How long does it take to get a conservatorship in Connecticut?
The hearing must be held within 30 days of the petition, though it can be continued for good cause1. A temporary conservator can be appointed within days in an emergency but lasts no more than 60 days total.
What is the difference between conservator of the person and conservator of the estate?
A conservator of the person handles personal and health care decisions, such as living arrangements and medical care. A conservator of the estate handles finances, such as bank accounts, income, and property. One person can hold both roles, or the court can appoint two different people for the same conserved person1.
Who can file a petition for conservatorship in Connecticut?
Any person alleging that an adult is incapable of managing their affairs or caring for themselves can file, not only a spouse or child1. File in the probate district where the respondent's permanent home is located, or where they currently reside or are located at the time.
Can a power of attorney prevent the need for a conservatorship?
Often, yes, which is why courts must consider less restrictive alternatives first10. It must be signed while the person still has legal capacity; once that's gone, a conservatorship may be the only option left.
What happens if a conservator misses a required financial report?
The Probate Court can order an audit of the conservator's finances, hold a hearing on the missing report, and remove the conservator for failing to meet their duties1. Financial records must be kept until the report or account is approved by the court and any appeal period has passed.
Is there a voluntary form of conservatorship in Connecticut?
Can a conservatorship decision be appealed in Connecticut?
Yes. Anyone aggrieved by a Probate Court decree, including the respondent, may appeal to the Superior Court within 45 days of the decree16. Conservatorship appeals are decided on the record made in Probate Court, and the Superior Court will affirm the decree unless it finds legal error or an abuse of discretion17.
Sources
- Connecticut Probate Courts, ctprobate.gov: Probate Court User Guide for Conservators Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut Probate Courts, ctprobate.gov: Conservatorship Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut Probate Courts, ctprobate.gov: Petition/Appointment of Conservator, PC-300 Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut Probate Courts, ctprobate.gov: Court-Appointed Attorney's Fees Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut Probate Courts, ctprobate.gov: Court-Appointed Conservator (Regulation 16) Fee Schedule Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-106a, ctprobate.gov: Fees in matters other than decedent's estate and fiduciary accountings Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-644, law.justia.com: Definitions Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-646, law.justia.com: Petition for voluntary representation Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-648, law.justia.com: Application for involuntary representation of resident or nondomiciliary Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-650, law.justia.com: Hearing on petition for involuntary representation Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-654, law.justia.com: Appointment of temporary conservator Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-655, law.justia.com: Duties of conservator of the estate Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-660, law.justia.com: Termination of conservatorship. Review of conservatorship by court Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 17b-450, law.justia.com: Protective Services for the Elderly, Definitions Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-350a, law.justia.com: Connecticut Uniform Power of Attorney Act, Definitions Checked 2026-09-25
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-186, law.justia.com: Appeals from probate. Venue. Service of process Checked 2026-09-28
- Connecticut General Statutes Section 45a-186a, law.justia.com: Appeal from Probate Court after a hearing on the record Checked 2026-09-28