On January 5, 2011 the Stafford Probate Court and Enfield Probate Court merged to become the North Central Connecticut Probate Court. The Court is located at 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut. However, office hours continue to be available to serve the residents of Stafford and Union at the Warren Memorial Town Hall in Stafford Springs, Connecticut on Mondays and Tuesdays as noted above.

The Probate Court serves its residents in a variety of areas according to jurisdiction set out in the Connecticut General Statutes, which includes, but is not limited to, overseeing the administration of decedent’s estates and trusts, appointing conservators and guardians, name changes, and adoptions. The Enfield office also offers limited hours (Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to process passport applications as an agent for the U.S. Department of State.

Probate courts have often been called "the people’s courts" because they offer simple, direct access to legal proceedings. Convenience and efficiency are the hallmarks of the probate court. The majority of uncontested matters are heard within four weeks of the time an application is filed. The atmosphere at the hearing is informal. Therefore, hearings are held in a conference room, and the judge does not preside from a bench or wear a black robe.

Probate court forms are designed to be “user-friendly,” and probate court staff may offer limited assistance to people completing required forms and reports. In the case of complex estates or complicated family matters, however, an attorney should be retained.

A wide variety of informational resources, probate court forms, estate tax forms and passport information are available at the court or on the internet using the links provided below.

Connecticut Probate Court System Information
http://www.jud.state.ct.us/probate/Default.htm

Probate Court Forms
http://www.jud2.ct.gov/webforms/default.htm#PROBATE

Estate tax and succession tax information and forms
http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?a=1509&q=445090

Booklets regarding decedent’s estates, guardianship, conservatorship, trusts, termination of parental rights and adoption
http://www.jud.state.ct.us/probate/faq.html

Ways to help children
http://www.ct.gov/dcf/cwp/view.asp?a=2556&q=314396

U.S. Passport information and forms - Passports may only be processed Monday, Tuesday and Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
http://www.travel.state.gov