Practical Connecticut Probate Tip - Do not continue to use a phone number that belonged to a deceased parent or relative in situations where settlement of the estate’s debts are an issue. Settling an estate in Connecticut probate can take a while. In many cases it is between 6 months to 1 year. If an estate is insolvent or may be insolvent it may take a year to settle issues with outstanding creditors.

That is a year where the various creditors may have turned over the matter to a debt collection agency. Right or wrong, the debt collection agencies will keep calling no matter how many times they are informed that the estate is pending in Connecticut Probate Court and that they are harassing the grieving family.

Their primary tool of harassment is the telephone. If you have your own phone number separate from your parent or relative’s phone number, then you can disconnect your parent’s phone number and take away the primary tool of these collection agencies.

The debt will ultimately be determined at the right time in the Connecticut Probate Court proceedings. There is no reason for anyone to endure this harassment after losing a loved one.

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Many people have asked: “what do probate courts do in Connecticut?” Today we are going to take a look at the types of matters that bring people into the Newington Probate Court.

Connecticut Probate Courts are responsible for many matters concerning trusts and estates. Some of these matters include:

• probating wills and the administration of estates;
• supervising the administration of testamentary and living trusts;
• determining title to real and personal property; and,
• determining the meaning of language in wills and trusts.

Connecticut Probate Courts are also involved in matters concerning Conservators, Guardians, and Commitment. Some of these issues include:

• appointing guardians for persons who are mentally retarded;
• approving sterilizations and placements of persons who are mentally retarded;
• appointing a guardian of the estate or person for a child;
• for persons with mental illness and/or for persons who are incapable of managing or administering their own affairs, appointing conservators of the person and the estate; and,
• committing those suffering from severe mental illness to an appropriate facility.

The Newington Probate Court works closely with local facilities such as Bel Air Manor, Jefferson House, Newington Health Care Center, and the Wethersfield Health Care Center to assist the residents of those facilities in protecting their legal rights and obtaining the care they need.

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When you are facing an estate administration or other probate matter in Connecticut the first question you need to answer is which Connecticut Probate Court District has jurisdiction over your case.

In the past, virtually every town in Connecticut had their own Probate Court. The legislature has moved to consolidate certain towns into larger Probate Districts in order to improve efficiency and standards. I practice primarily in the Newington Probate Court.  The Newington Probate Court District includes the towns of Newington as well as Rocky Hill and Wethersfield.

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