2011 Connecticut Code
Title 45a Probate Courts and Procedure
Chapter 801a Probate Court: Jurisdiction, Powers
Sec. 45a-98. (Formerly Sec. 45-4). General powers.

      Sec. 45a-98. (Formerly Sec. 45-4). General powers. (a) Courts of probate in their respective districts shall have the power to (1) grant administration of intestate estates of persons who have died domiciled in their districts and of intestate estates of persons not domiciled in this state which may be granted as provided by section 45a-303; (2) admit wills to probate of persons who have died domiciled in their districts or of nondomiciliaries whose wills may be proved in their districts as provided in section 45a-287; (3) except as provided in section 45a-98a or as limited by an applicable statute of limitations, determine title or rights of possession and use in and to any real, tangible or intangible property that constitutes, or may constitute, all or part of any trust, any decedent's estate, or any estate under control of a guardian or conservator, which trust or estate is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Probate Court, including the rights and obligations of any beneficiary of the trust or estate and including the rights and obligations of any joint tenant with respect to survivorship property; (4) except as provided in section 45a-98a, construe the meaning and effect of any will or trust agreement if a construction is required in connection with the administration or distribution of a trust or estate otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Probate Court, or, with respect to an inter vivos trust, if that trust is or could be subject to jurisdiction of the court for an accounting pursuant to section 45a-175, provided such an accounting need not be required; (5) except as provided in section 45a-98a, apply the doctrine of cy pres or approximation; (6) to the extent provided for in section 45a-175, call executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, conservators, persons appointed to sell the land of minors, and attorneys-in-fact acting under powers of attorney created in accordance with section 45a-562, to account concerning the estates entrusted to their charge; and (7) make any lawful orders or decrees to carry into effect the power and jurisdiction conferred upon them by the laws of this state.

      (b) The jurisdiction of courts of probate to determine title or rights or to construe instruments or to apply the doctrine of cy pres or approximation pursuant to subsection (a) of this section is concurrent with the jurisdiction of the Superior Court and does not affect the power of the Superior Court as a court of general jurisdiction.

      (1949 Rev., S. 6813; P.A. 80-410, S. 1; 80-476, S. 2; P.A. 93-279, S. 6; P.A. 98-219, S. 4.)

      History: P.A. 80-410 and P.A. 80-476 specified court power to grant administration of intestate estates and to admit wills to probate in greater detail, extending power to estates of persons not domiciled in state or in court districts and deleted provision re appeals from findings as to domicile; Sec. 45-4 transferred to Sec. 45a-98 in 1991; P.A. 93-279 divided section into Subsecs. and Subdivs., adding Subdivs. (3) and (4) and making technical changes in Subdiv. (5) re jurisdiction to determine title or rights in possession to tangible or intangible property, including rights and obligations of beneficiary and joint tenant and jurisdiction to construe meaning and effect of will or trust agreement in certain cases and adding as Subsec. (b) provision re concurrent jurisdiction with superior court to determine title or rights or to construe instruments; P.A. 98-219 added provisions re application of doctrine of cy pres or approximation.

      Annotations to former section 45-4:

      Decrees upon matters within their jurisdiction conclusive until regularly set aside. 1 D. 172; 3 D. 326; 5 D. 217; 7 C. 23; 17 C. 392; 23 C. 8; 31 C. 422; 35 C. 359; id., 523; 38 C. 271; 48 C. 173; 50 C. 330; 64 C. 493; 76 C. 416; appointment of guardian; 75 C. 308; determining distributees; 69 C. 64; 71 C. 122; 89 C. 421; authorizing settlement of disputed claim; 86 C. 470; approving will; 67 C. 90; 76 C. 416; limiting time for settlement of estate; 69 C. 696; removal of executor; 86 C. 281; appointing executor; 92 C. 654; requiring trustee to file an account. Id., 291. But court may, for certain causes, revoke its orders and correct mistakes; 13 C. 226; 35 C. 123; 36 C. 193; see 31 C. 382; but not ordinarily; 81 C. 688; as where will is admitted to probate and estate settled and then later will is offered; 76 C. 416; but its decree may be attacked for fraud, and it binds only parties and privies; 66 C. 140; and necessity of notice. 77 C. 77. Distinction between want of and erroneous exercise of jurisdiction. 67 C. 185. Effect of order making allowances to widow. 69 C. 694. Effect of decree accepting account. 77 C. 70; 79 C. 555; 82 C. 33; 85 C. 279. Effect of parties uniting in request for order. 75 C. 603. Not usual to make order unless parties request it. 15 C. 122. Courts have special and limited jurisdiction; 26 C. 273; 31 C. 383; 34 C. 446; 92 C. 26; id., 657; 93 C. 405; 120 C. 409. A will cannot confer jurisdiction. 69 C. 708. It cannot give jurisdiction over estate of nonresident; at least a prima facie showing of property here is necessary. 76 C. 118; 83 C. 240. Mutual distribution does not end power of court. 72 C. 555. Entire settlement of estates appertains to courts of probate. 7 C. 307; Id., 315; 8 C. 281; 24 C. 246; 31 C. 279; 33 C. 512; 36 C. 294; 43 C. 75; 49 C. 580. Has chancery powers on matters within its jurisdiction. 8 C. 281; 9 C. 182; 10 C. 121; 27 C. 250; 37 C. 197; 41 C. 559. But court cannot determine equities between distributees and strangers arising after distribution. 69 C. 701; 82 C. 308. It cannot pass on contract between persons entitled to estate. 44 C. 327. Cannot allow claims against estate of insolvent. 10 C. 238. Cannot try question of title. 35 C. 114; 53 C. 37; 84 C. 560; but see 71 C. 129. Incidental power to construe will. 70 C. 364; 71 C. 122. If there is doubt as to validity of trust, court should appoint trustee. 74 C. 601; 77 C. 705. Power to pass on fulfillment of condition of bequest. 67 C. 385. Power to pass on antenuptial agreement claimed to bar dower. 66 C. 133. Effect of decrees determining rights not ordinarily within jurisdiction. 71 C. 129. Cannot decree forfeiture under conditions of will. 35 C. 210. Can make order terminating trust and directing payment of money. 82 C. 558; but see 93 C. 406. Jurisdiction not presumed; must appear of record. 86 C. 351. Power of legislature to set aside decree and order new hearing. 3 Dal. 386. Location of estate is not material upon issue of jurisdiction of court to grant administration of estates of persons who died domiciled in district. 115 C. 301. In ascertaining distributees, probate court has jurisdiction to answer the question of whether the doctrine of approximation is applicable. 139 C. 435. Cited. 143 C. 662. Probate court has only such jurisdiction as is expressly or by necessary implication conferred by statute. 148 C. 642; 153 C. 603, 614. Cited. 150 C. 565; 152 C. 528. The superior court, on an appeal from probate, sits as, and has no greater power than, a court of probate. 153 C. 603, 614. Cited. 155 C. 417; 158 C. 294. Cited. 204 C. 303.

      Cited. 6 CA 530.

      Where doings of commissioners, appointed to decide claims, were vacated by the taking of an appeal, a decree reopening the commission, when the appeal was discontinued, was a valid exercise of the inherent power of the probate court. 18 CS 202. Court is one of limited jurisdiction and may only exercise such powers, including equitable power, as is derived from statutes. 22 CS 80. Probate court is the only tribunal competent to decide question of due execution of a will. 23 CS 101. Order to ancillary trustee in Connecticut to transfer trust assets here to trustee outside state is within jurisdiction of probate court. 28 CS 499, 501. Cited. 39 CS 157, 158.

      Annotations to present section:

      Cited. 44 CS 592.

      Subsec. (a):

      Subdiv. (3): Legislature intended P.A. 93-279 to vest Probate Court with concurrent jurisdiction with Superior Court to try title to real and personal property in which a claim is made that said property is an asset of a trust, a decedent's estate or any estate under the control of a conservator or guardian; Probate Court did not have jurisdiction over plaintiff's action for specific performance of contract for sale of property because claim involved no dispute as to whether title to that property was in fact an asset of decedent's estate as required for jurisdiction under Subdiv. 292 C. 696.

      Subsec. (b):

      Section is a declaration that Probate Court and Superior Court are to have concurrent jurisdiction over matters involving title and rights to property. 50 CA 132.