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Two Existing Town Probate Court
Districts To Be Merged In January 2011
State Senator Toni Boucher (R-26), Senator L. Scott
Frantz (R-36) and State Representative John Hetherington
(R-125) voted in favor of legislation that will merge
the New Canaan and Darien probate court districts under
a statewide redistricting plan that will take effect
on January 5, 2011.
“This is excellent news for the families served
by the probate courts in both of these communities.
We have known for some time now that the number of probate
courts in our state would be reduced, and it has been
Senator Frantz’s, Representative Hetherington’s
and my greatest concern that whatever redistricting
plan was finally adopted would be in the best interests
of the families who depend upon their services. Joining
New Canaan and Darien was the best possible solution,
and we worked very hard for this outcome. It is important
for the probate court to have a deep knowledge and understanding
of each community’s unique issues. We therefore
thank the members of the redistricting commission for
their hard work and their efforts to meet the concerns
of our communities,”” said Senator
Boucher, whose legislative district includes
New Canaan.
“I am very satisfied and relieved that the Senate
and House voted in favor of the probate redistricting
bill," said Senator Frantz. "Preserving
the probate court in Greenwich and Stamford and allowing
New Canaan and Darien to combine resources as opposed
to combining New Canaan with a larger municipality is
a desired and common-sense solution."
“I am very pleased with the outcome which creates
a probate district that includes just New Canaan and
Darien. The earlier proposal would have created a fragmented
district of noncontiguous towns. I am grateful for all
who worked on this, including Senator Franz and Representative
William Tong who share with me representation of New
Canaan in the General Assembly," said Representative
John Hetherington.
Both chambers of the General Assembly passed HB
7001, An Act Concerning The Recommendations Of The Probate
Redistricting Commission, which calls reducing
the number of probate courts statewide from 117 to 54.
The legislation, now heading for Governor M. Jodi Rell’s
desk, will take effect on January 5, 2011. The General
Assembly passed the legislation creating the redistricting
commission earlier this year.
Connecticut’s 300 year old probate court system
has jurisdiction over a wide variety of matters including:
probating wills and the administration of estates; overseeing
testamentary and living trusts; determining title to
real and personal property; construing the meaning of
wills and trusts; appointing guardians for the mentally
retarded; appointing conservators of the person and
the estate of incapable individuals; committing those
suffering from mental illness, alcoholism, or drug addiction
to an appropriate facility; removing unfit parents as
guardians of their children; terminating the parental
rights of parents who cannot fulfill their parental
responsibilities; granting adoptions; and granting name
changes.
Press Contact for Senator Boucher: Catherine Sarault
– catherine.sarault@cga.ct.gov,
860-240-8818
Press Contact for Senator Frantz: Rachel Reese –
rachel.reese@cga.ct.gov, 860-240-8865
Press Contact for Representative Hetherington: John
Dooley – john.dooley@cga.ct.gov, 860-240-8700
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