Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19)

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19) is a commonly used form within Connecticut. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19)

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19):

• This form pertains to the State of Connecticut

• The current version of this form was last revised on August 1, 2019

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Connecticut’s Form PC-603 - Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19) up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct Connecticut form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Connecticut probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form PC-603, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in CT are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form PC-603 online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form PC-603 witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19) to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

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Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Connecticut.

5 reasons you should submit PC-603 as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster Connecticut can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Connecticut. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of Connecticut is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Connecticut probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Connecticut probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form PC-603, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19) is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Connecticut probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Connecticut.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form PC-603 - Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19) f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Connecticut probate court office.

Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19) is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Connecticut-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Connecticut Form PC-603 - Petition/adoption (Rev. 8/19). You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

CONNECTICUT PROBATE COURTS Petition/Adoption PC-603 REV. 8/19 CONFIDENTIAL Petition/Adoption PC-6 03 Page 1 of 2 RECEIVED: Instructions: 1) The sole parent, a statutory parent or a guardian of the person of a minor child who is free for adoption as provided in C.G.S. sections 45a-724 and 45a-725 may use this form to petition for approval of an adoption of the minor child. 2)The petition must be filed in duplicate (unless filed electronically) in the court for the probate district in which the adoptive parent resides or the district where the statutory parent is located. 3)The following documents must be filed with the petition: a) certified long-form birth certificate, b) Adoption Agreement, PC-681, c) Adoption Data Sheet, PC-680, d) JD-FM-164, Affidavit Concerning Children, and e) Confidential Sheet, PC-603CI, with confidential social security numbers. 4)For more information, see C.G.S. sections 45a-724 et seq. and Rule 40 of the Probate Court Rules of Pro cedure. 5)Type or print in ink. Use an additional sheet, or PC-180, if more space is needed. Probate Court Name Dist rict Number In the Matter of (Name and present address) Date of Birth of Minor Child Place of Birth of Minor Child Hereinafter referred to as the minor child Tribe and Reservation of Minor Child, if an Indian Child as defined by 25 U.S.C. section 1903 (N ame and address) Jurisdiction based on: Adoptive parent resides in the probate district. Statutory parent has an office in the probate district. Petitioner (N ame, address and telephone number) Sole parent of the minor child Statutory Parent Guardian of the person of the minor child Adoptive Parent (s) (N ame, address and t elephone number) THE PETITIONER REPRESENTS THAT to the best knowledge and belief: There is no proceeding pending or contemplated in Connecticut or any other state affecting the custody of the minor child. There is a proceeding pending or contemplated in Connecticut or any other state affecting the custody of the minor child , but the proposed adoption will not conflict with or interfere with the other proceeding. (File JD-FM -164, Affidavit Concerning Children, and state the nature of the proceeding in detail below.) M F CONNECTICUT PROBATE COURTS Petition/Adoption PC-603 REV. 8/19 CONFIDENTIAL Petition/Adoption The minor c hild is free for adoption pursuant to C.G.S. section 45a-725. The petitioner is the sole parent of the minor child and has entered into an Adoption Agreement for the adoption of the minor child with the adoptive parent who is the petitioner’s spouse. has entered into an Adoption Agreement for the adoption of the minor child with the adoptive parent, who is a person who shares parental responsibility for the child with the parent. The pet itioner is the statutory parent for the minor child and has entered into an Adoption Agreement for the adoption of the minor child with the adoptive parent(s). The petitioner is a guardian of the person of the minor and has entered into an Adoption Agreement for the adoption of the minor with the adoptive parent(s), one of whom is a blood relative descended from a common ancestor not more than three generations removed from the minor child. The adoption of the minor child by the adoptive parent (s) is in the best interest of the minor child. WHEREFORE, THE PETITIONER REQUESTS that : The court approv e the Adoption Agreement submitted with the petition between the petitioner and the adoptive person(s). Change the name of the minor child to: ____________________________________________. The representations made in this petition are made under penalty of false statement. Signature of Petitioner Title , if applicable Type or Print Name Date Consent of Minor Child I, the undersigned minor child, being at least 12 years of age, consent to adoption by the proposed adoptive parent (s). C.G.S. section 45a-724. Signature of Minor Child Duly Acknowledged Before Me Type or Print Name Date Judge, Clerk, Public Notary, Comm. Sup. Ct. PC -603 Page 2 of 2