Connecticut Probate Court Consolidation
We’ve mentioned before that the Probate Court system in Connecticut faces severe financial problems. To avoid facing the possibility of a $5 million deficit in 2011, the state has passed a law reducing the number of probate courts in Connecticut from 117 to 50 or fewer.
According to the Ridgefield Press, Ridgefield’s probate court will likely be joined with those of Redding, Bethel and Newtown, serving about 78,000 people.
What does this mean for local residents and attorneys? A lot more driving. Since we also practice in New York, we’re accustomed to this. We currently have active cases in New York (downtown Manhattan), Queens (Jamaica), Rockland (New Town) and Westchester (White Plains) Counties, not to mention the Towns of Ridgefield, Madison, and Westbrook in CT.
However, we recognize that many Probate cases are small, and that individuals may be handling them without attorneys. It makes sense to locate regional courts so that getting to them does not become a burden. The Ridgefield Press reports that Ridgefield Probate Judge Joseph Egan and Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi are concerned that Newtown is pushing to host the court offices for the four towns. Yet Danbury and Bethel are possible contenders for the site, too.
In his Connecticut Law Blog, Ryan McKeen brings up some interesting questions, including the issue of whether or not new facilities will have to be built.
We'll buckle our seatbelts and prepare for a bumpy ride.
