Author Archives: ailin

Connecticut- Ailin Guo

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Part 1

594px-Flag_of_Connecticut.svg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Connecticut

Part 2

I. Intestacy Law of Connecticut

A. If a decedent is survived by a spouse and issue.
In Connecticut if a decedent dies intestate and is survive by a spouse and issue, the estate can be distributed in two ways.

  1. The first one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) plus one-half of the remaining balance goes to the surviving spouse if all surviving issue of the decedent are also issue of the spouse. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §45a-437 (West 2014).
  2. The surviving spouse takes one-half of the estate if the one or more of decedent’s surviving issue are not issue of the spouse. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §45a-437 (West 2014).
  • After distribution to the surviving spouse in both cases, the residue of the estate is distributed among the children, including posthumous children per stirpes. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §45a-438 (West 2014).

The difference is according to the New York’s Estates, Powers & Trusts Law, the surviving spouse gets the first fifty thousand ($50,000) and one-half regardless if the surviving issues of the decedent are issue of the spouse and the remaining balance is distributed among all issues of decedent by representation and not per strips.

B.  If a decedent is survived by a spouse and no issue.

  1. The entire estate goes to the surviving spouse if there is no surviving issue or parent of the decedent. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §45a-437 (West 2014).
  2. The surviving spouse gets the first one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) plus three-quarter of the balance if the decedent is survived by parent(s) the remaining will be equally distributed among them. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §45a-437 (West 2014).

This is differ from New York’s intestacy law which the entire estate would go to the surviving spouse regardless if the decedent is survived by parent(s).

C. If a decedent is survived by no spouse and no issue.

  • If a decedent have no surviving spouse and issue the entire estate goes to parent(s) equally. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §45a-439 (West 2014).

This is the same as New York’s intestacy laws.

II. Testamentary Capacity in Connecticut

  • Any person over eighteen years old and of sound mind can make a will. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §45a-250 (West 2014).

This is the same standard set forth in New York’s Estates, Powers & Trusts Law for testamentary capacity.

III. Number of witnesses require for due execution of a Will.

  • Two witnesses are needed for due execution of a Will in Connecticut. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §45a-251 (West 2014).
  • This is the same number of witnesses required under New York’s Estates, Powers & Trusts Law for due execution.

Part 3

4. Largest populated City in Connecticut is Bridgeport. Ganim Legal, P.C is a law firm that specializes in probate/estate planning.  They have over 20 years of experience in probate/estate planning.  They offer free consultations and they also do personal injury, family law, and real estate law.

5. Baldwin Pearson & Company, Inc. real estate appraiser who is a family owned business and been commercial and industrial brokers and appraiser since 1953.

6. Bridgeport Probate Court, 202 Connecticut 130, Bridgeport, CT 06604

7. Sacred Heart University. Never mentioned if it’s ABA approved.  Cost $18,460 per semester, which is more than City Tech.