Tossing out Connecticut’s creaky and inefficient probate system means changes for some local probate courts, including the one in Bristol.
“Bristol would be merging with the Plainville and Plymouth probate courts,” said Bristol Probate Judge Andre Dorval.
The General Assembly overwhelmingly approved an overhaul of the probate court system this week that would shrink the number of courts from 117 to 54 across Connecticut. Gov. Jodi Rell has strongly endorsed the change.
The shift will take place in 2011, with judges elected for the new court districts next fall.
Dorval, who plans to seek election, said there is a natural connection between Bristol, Plainville and Plymouth so the new boundaries “make a great deal of common sense.”
The Probate Redistricting Commission considered adding Plainville to the district that includes Farmington and Burlington, but ultimately tabled the idea.
State Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat, said that "Bristol would be the hub" of the new district that includes Plainville.
The state decided to consolidate probate courts in order to increase the likelihood that quality judges would handle cases rather than small town politicians who may not have much idea what they are doing.
Dorval said last spring he would likely stop practicing law on the side if the probate district grew larger and devote himself solely to the probate court. He’s been Bristol’s judge for 15 years, earning high marks for his handling of sometimes difficult cases.
The state aims to minimize the number of satellite courts, but Dorval said he would like to leave Plainville’s probate court facility open” in addition to the court in Bristol. Plymouth would lose its court.
Dorval said the bigger district will be “a little bit more difficult for me personally” because he’s less familiar with the two neighboring towns than he is with Bristol. But, he said, he’ll work over the next year to get to know the other towns better.
The probate court traditionally handled mostly estates, but they have some to spend as much time on family issues that include adoptions, commitments, conservatorships, paternity questions and other tough issues.
New probate districts in Central Connecticut
Bristol-Plainville-Plymouth
Burlington-Farmington
New Britain-Berlin
Southington-Cheshire
Newington-Wethersfield-Rocky Hill
West Hartford
Wolcott-Waterbury
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Showing posts with label probate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label probate. Show all posts
September 24, 2009
Bristol's probate court to grow
The state House last night backed an overhaul the probate court system that would shrink the numbers of courts from 117 to 54 across Connecticut.
Instead of having its own court, Bristol would be combined with neighboring Plainville and Plymouth.
"Bristol would be the hub," said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat who joined the overwhelming majority to approve the measure.
Nicastro said the city's entire delegation favored the proposal. He said he was pleased with the outcome.
Probate Court Judge Andre Dorval has been working for months to ensure that Bristol wouldn't wind up with the short stick as the reform moved forward.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Instead of having its own court, Bristol would be combined with neighboring Plainville and Plymouth.
"Bristol would be the hub," said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat who joined the overwhelming majority to approve the measure.
Nicastro said the city's entire delegation favored the proposal. He said he was pleased with the outcome.
Probate Court Judge Andre Dorval has been working for months to ensure that Bristol wouldn't wind up with the short stick as the reform moved forward.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
May 14, 2009
Plainville, Bristol eye combined probate courts
As part of a statewide effort to trim the number of probate courts, Plainville’s court is likely to merge with Bristol’s beginning in 2011.
City councilors this week agreed to the proposal, which won’t cost taxpayers anything.
City Probate Judge Andre Dorval said the newly combined courts will continue much as always.
What will be different, he said, is that he will likely drop his part-time private law practice and treat the combined posts as full-time. Dorval said he would seek election as probate judge for both towns.
Mayor Art Ward said Plainville requested that it be allowed to combine its probate court with Bristol’s. It plans to give its formal approval of the deal next week, the mayor said.
City Councilor Kevin McCauley asked if Dorval could handle both towns.
“I would be able to serve both the courts,” Dorval said.
The state is eyeing the consolidation of probate courts in order to increase the likelihood that quality judges would handle cases rather than small town politicians who may not have much idea what they are doing.
Dorval said that smaller towns such as Plainville are taking steps to consolidate with the courts of their choosing rather than waiting for state orders to combine particular jurisdictions.
The move sought by Bristol and Plainville will need the approval of the state before it becomes final.
It would not take effect until the expiration of the current term of Plainville’s longtime probate judge, Heidi Famiglietti.
Dorval said his initial thought is to leave Plainville’s court open and to travel there for hearings. But if Plainville ever wants the space back in its Municipal Center, he said, the arrangement might change.
Plainville would pay a pro-rated share of the cost of the joint court, Dorval said.
It would not cost either town more money to combine the courts, Dorval said.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
City councilors this week agreed to the proposal, which won’t cost taxpayers anything.
City Probate Judge Andre Dorval said the newly combined courts will continue much as always.
What will be different, he said, is that he will likely drop his part-time private law practice and treat the combined posts as full-time. Dorval said he would seek election as probate judge for both towns.
Mayor Art Ward said Plainville requested that it be allowed to combine its probate court with Bristol’s. It plans to give its formal approval of the deal next week, the mayor said.
City Councilor Kevin McCauley asked if Dorval could handle both towns.
“I would be able to serve both the courts,” Dorval said.
The state is eyeing the consolidation of probate courts in order to increase the likelihood that quality judges would handle cases rather than small town politicians who may not have much idea what they are doing.
Dorval said that smaller towns such as Plainville are taking steps to consolidate with the courts of their choosing rather than waiting for state orders to combine particular jurisdictions.
The move sought by Bristol and Plainville will need the approval of the state before it becomes final.
It would not take effect until the expiration of the current term of Plainville’s longtime probate judge, Heidi Famiglietti.
Dorval said his initial thought is to leave Plainville’s court open and to travel there for hearings. But if Plainville ever wants the space back in its Municipal Center, he said, the arrangement might change.
Plainville would pay a pro-rated share of the cost of the joint court, Dorval said.
It would not cost either town more money to combine the courts, Dorval said.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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