Short answer

First, determine whether the vehicle was repossessed before or after the decedent’s date of death. That date controls whether the vehicle is an estate asset, a discharged asset, or a claim issue. Collect the lender’s repossession and disposition records (repo notice, sale statement, title transfer, account ledger, and any surplus notice). Include copies in the estate inventory submitted to the Probate Court, and keep the repo documentation to support the fiduciary’s handling of the asset and any claims for surplus or deficiency.

Detailed answer — step‑by‑step under Connecticut law

1) Confirm the timing: date of repossession vs. date of death

If the vehicle was repossessed before the person died, the car generally is not part of the estate. If the repossession happened after death, the vehicle was an asset at the time of death but a secured creditor took possession afterward. The timing affects whether the personal representative (or executor) must list the vehicle on the estate inventory and whether the estate may pursue surplus sale proceeds or must account for a deficiency.

2) Obtain full documentation from the secured party (lender/lessor)

Ask the lender or repo company for the decedent’s complete repo file. Important documents include:

• Repossession notice and date of repossession;
• Account ledger showing charges, payments, arrears, balance due, and the date of default;
• Notice of sale and disposition documentation (bill of sale, sale proceeds statement, advertisement of sale if published);
• Title transfer documents and any application for a new title in the lender’s or buyer’s name;
• Accounting for surplus or deficiency (statement showing whether sale produced surplus money above the debt or a shortfall);
• Copies of any communications between the lender and the decedent (or the estate fiduciary).

Collecting these items is essential so the estate fiduciary can accurately report the asset status to the Probate Court and respond to creditor or buyer questions.

3) How to list the repossessed vehicle in the estate inventory

When preparing the estate inventory for the Connecticut Probate Court, treat the vehicle as follows:

• Repossessed before death: Include a brief entry that the vehicle was owned before death but repossessed on [date]; attach the lender’s repossession and disposition paperwork to show it was not part of the estate at administration.
• Repossessed after death: List the vehicle on the inventory at its fair market value as of the date of death. Separately list the secured creditor’s lien and note that the creditor later repossessed and disposed of the collateral; attach repo and disposition records. The estate representative should treat the secured creditor’s claim the same as other creditor claims and follow Probate Court procedures for notice and payment.

4) Surplus proceeds and deficiencies — what to watch for

If the lender sells the repossessed vehicle and the sale price exceeds what was owed, state law and secured‑transaction rules require the creditor to account for and turn over any surplus to the owner (or the owner’s estate). If the sale produced less than the debt, the creditor may have a deficiency claim against the estate. Keep all sale accounting; the estate may receive surplus funds or have to evaluate a creditor deficiency claim and either object or pay if valid.

5) Communicate with the Probate Court and follow creditor claim procedures

The personal representative should follow Connecticut Probate Court procedures for inventories and for notifying and resolving creditor claims. The Probate Court can provide forms and local instructions. For general Probate Court information, see the Connecticut Judicial Branch Probate Court page: https://www.jud.ct.gov/probate/. For Connecticut statutes and further statutory reference, consult the Connecticut General Assembly website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/.

6) Practical steps and sample requests

Practical actions the fiduciary should take:

1. Get a certified copy of the decedent’s death certificate and letters of appointment from Probate (if you are the representative).
2. Contact the lender/servicer in writing. Request the repo file, sale accounting, title assignment, and any notice of surplus. Use express subject lines such as “Request for repossession and disposition records — estate of [Name].”
3. Preserve all communications and make photocopies of every document you receive; file them with the estate inventory and case file.
4. Include an explanatory note with the Probate inventory stating: the vehicle description, VIN, date of death value, repossession date (if any), and where repo/disposition documents can be found in the estate file.
5. If you discover a surplus, ask for written instructions and a check payable to the estate; if the lender asserts a deficiency, ask for a detailed ledger and supporting documentation before deciding whether to admit or contest the claim.

7) When to get legal help

Contact an attorney if the creditor fails to produce full documentation, claims a large deficiency without supporting records, or you believe the sale procedures were improper. A lawyer can review the repo and sale process for compliance with Connecticut law and the secured‑transactions rules and can represent the estate in contested creditor claim proceedings in Probate Court.

Statute and resource pointers: Connecticut administers probate matters under the Connecticut Probate Court system; general statute and court rules govern estate inventories and creditor claims. Secured transactions (repossession and disposition of collateral) are governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in Connecticut. For primary sources and text, search the Connecticut General Assembly statutes and Probate Court resources at the links above: https://www.cga.ct.gov/ and https://www.jud.ct.gov/probate/.

Helpful hints

• Check the repo date carefully. One day can change whether an item is an estate asset.
• Always ask for a written accounting. Informal phone answers are not sufficient proof for Probate Court.
• If the lender sold the vehicle, request the sale bill showing sale price, expenses, and the distribution of proceeds (debt payoff and any surplus).
• Keep a clear paper trail. Attach all repo paperwork to the estate inventory and to any creditor claim files.
• If you are the fiduciary and the estate is small, ask the Probate Court clerk whether a simplified administration process applies.
• If the vehicle had co‑owners or was titled jointly, determine title ownership at death — joint ownership may mean the asset did not pass through probate.
• When in doubt, get help early. Preventable mistakes (failing to list an asset or missing a deadline) can complicate administration.