HB 6387 - Court Operations Summary

• Expands Superior Court jurisdiction over family relations matters to include dissolution, legal separation, and annulment of civil unions performed in foreign jurisdictions, effective October 1, 2013.

• Creates new emergency ex parte custody order procedures allowing applicants to seek immediate court protection for children facing immediate physical danger or psychological harm, with hearings required within 14 days.

• Modifies domestic violence protective order procedures under section 46b-15 to allow applicants to indicate whether respondents hold firearm permits or possess firearms, and extends ex parte orders if court is closed on scheduled hearing date.

• Reduces Superior Court entry fees effective July 1, 2015: civil cases from $350 to $300, small claims cases from $90 to $75, and eliminates counterclaim fees in small claims cases.

• Changes procedural terminology from "lodge" to "file" for court documents and memoranda of decisions, and authorizes commissioners approved by Chief Court Administrator to hear small claims cases.