Realigned probate court system is ready to go

East Lyme - The historic reorganization of the state's probate court system starts today with the closing of more than half of the courts.

It's a profound change, but Judge Jeffrey McNamara, who is scheduled to be sworn in today as probate judge of the East Lyme district, said he and his staff are ready.

"We've ironed out any issues," said McNamara, who has been judge from the district that was exclusively East Lyme for 12 years. "So far everyone seems on board."

In addition to East Lyme, the district will now serve residents from Montville, Salem and Old Lyme.

The consolidation is the result of a reform bill passed by the General Assembly to make the court system more efficient and cost-effective. The number of probate districts statewide has been reduced from 117 to 54.

Notices of the changes were posted at the town halls this week and last. Offices in some towns are empty, and files and computers have been moved.

Probate courts have jurisdiction over wills and the administration of estates. They also oversee trusts, determine titles to real and personal property, and more.

Before the redistricting, the courts were self-financing, with a judge's salary linked to a court's income. Now judges will be paid from a central fund - the Probate Court Administration Fund - with salaries based on a probate district's population and the judge's workload.

The state will pay judges between 45 percent and 75 percent of the salary of state Superior Court judges, who earn $146,780.

In another change, the new regional courts will be open on a full-time basis.

The state has estimated that the consolidation will save between $4.5 million and $5 million.

McNamara and John Butts, Salem's former probate judge, agreed that the transition has been fairly smooth. McNamara did note, however, that things were a bit "crazy" the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, when about 300 files were moved into the East Lyme building, as well as furniture and some staff.

"Why they decided to move things the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I don't know. It was crazy, but we made it work," McNamara said.

Clerks from Montville and Old Lyme are now at the East Lyme office. Some staff members retired, but no jobs were lost. Many of the former probate judges have either retired or resigned to continue their own law practices.

Up until Wednesday, probate courts around the area were still conducting hearings and trying to close out any paperwork before the transition.

McNamara said the biggest challenge is getting residents from other towns to feel comfortable coming to the East Lyme office, which is on Pennsylvania Avenue. He said he hopes to keep the probate court "user friendly." In the past he's operated the East Lyme court on a personal level, he said, and he goes out into the community to educate residents about probate matters.

"I think the consolidation is fine, as long as we're able to continue that level of service," McNamara said. The job, he said, "gives me an opportunity to sit down with people who are going through a very difficult part of their life."

The consolidation "gives me a chance to make a difference," he added. "I've done that in East Lyme and now I can expand that with these three other towns."

The regional probate court is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (860) 739-6052.

a.renczkowski@theday.com