HB 6438 - Probate Court Operations Summary

• Establishes up to seven regional children's probate courts to handle guardianship, termination of parental rights, adoption, paternity, emancipation, and voluntary admission matters, with an administrative judge overseeing each regional court (effective July 1, 2011)

• Adds probate judges as employees covered under workers' compensation insurance (effective July 1, 2011)

• Increases probate court fees including charges for copying records via hand-held scanner ($20/day), updates terminology in probate procedures, and corrects statutory cross-references (effective October 1, 2011)

• Makes adoption, termination of parental rights, and related case records confidential and restricts access to authorized parties including the parties themselves, Department of Children and Families, and courts (effective October 1, 2011)

• Expands temporary administrator appointments to allow family members to obtain financial and medical information for investigating potential claims or benefits on behalf of the deceased's estate, surviving family members, or dependents (effective October 1, 2011)