No word (yet) on fate of revamped probate courts, including NW Corner's

Over the course of the last three centuries, the Connecticut Probate Court system evolved into what it is today: 117 courts, serving cities or multiple town districts as population and need dictated.

The number of courts will be cut by a third if a new law signed in June by Gov. M. Jodi Rell goes into effect. A decision, due this month, could reorganize the number of courts to no more than 50 for the entire state.

The decision will bring numerous changes. Some would have major impacts — such as the requirement that all probate judges newly elected after the law’s effective date of Jan. 5, 2011, be attorneys.

The major change will be in the way the courts are funded. Currently, the probate courts operate on fees they collect for services that include settling estates and establishing guardianships.  

Collected fees that exceed operating costs are given to the state Probate Court Administration Fund. For many courts, particularly those in cities where much work is done for those who cannot pay, the system is a losing proposition. A multi-million dollar deficit is piling up.

The new law is aimed at reforming the system before it goes bankrupt.

The Legislature is seeking to redistrict the courts based on population and workload. Under the new system, all collected fees would go directly to the state, which would in turn fund a budget for each court. A legislative committee has until Sept. 15 to come up with a re-districting plan.

Northwest Corner Probate District Judge Charlie Vail was among those testifying Aug. 20 at a public hearing on the plan in Hartford.

As proposed, the six towns in the current district would be combined with the Winsted and New Hartford court districts.

The Northwest Corner district as it is configured now includes North Canaan, Falls Village, Sharon, Salisbury, Cornwall and Norfolk and serves 14,000 people. The change would expand the district to 12 towns, and the state’s target of about 40,000 people.

“There were about five districts represented at the hearing, from around the state, that were seeking changes to the plan,â€� Vail said. “There were a lot of legislators and judges there with concerns.  The courts and towns here are all pretty much in agreement that we want to expand the district into Litchfield.â€�

The issue is one mainly of geography. Vail has appeared at selectmen’s meetings around the district to rally support for a plan that he believes better serves residents, some of whom already have a 30-minute drive to the court.

He came back from Hartford with no insight as to how the committee is thinking. He called it a typical public hearing format, where nothing was done but accept comments.

There are rumors that with two committee meetings scheduled between the hearing and today (Sept. 3), a decision may come early. But it may or may not be announced early.