Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator...
-
Upload
calvin-allison -
Category
Documents
-
view
221 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator...
![Page 1: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Connecticut Funeral DirectorsThursday, December 3, 2015
Paul J. KnierimProbate Court Administrator
New Developments New Developments
in Probatein Probate
![Page 2: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Probate Court Restructuring2
January 1st will be 5th year anniversary 117 courts consolidated into 54 Finances centralized Benefits:
All courts full-time Better facilities Uniform procedures System-wide compensation and benefits
plan Annual savings of $4 million
![Page 3: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Budget for Fiscal Years 2015-16 and 2016-17
Eliminates general fund appropriation for Probate Courts
Increases probate fees to replace budget funds Filing fees Accounting fees Decedents’ estate fees
3
![Page 4: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Filing Fees (Other than Decedents’ Estates)
4
Most matters: Increase from $150 to $225 Custody of remains increases from $25 to
$150
Effective January 1, 2016
![Page 5: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Filing Fees for Accounts5
Fee is greater of: 0.05% of value of assets X number of years 0.05% of receipts
Minimum fee: $50 Maximum fee: $500/year
Effective January 1, 2016
![Page 6: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Fees on Decedents’ Estates6
Rate increases to 0.5% on estates with basis for fees over $2 million
No cap (previously $12,500) New filing fees:
Open a safe deposit box: $50 Appoint estate examiner: $50 Mediation under regulation 22: $350/day
Effective for decedents dying on or after January 1, 2015
![Page 7: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Interest on Decedents’ Estate Fees7
All estates must file estate tax return $2 million or less: No tax, submit return to
Probate Court Over $2 million: Taxable, submit return to
DRS and copy to Probate Court Court uses figures on estate tax return to
calculate probate fee invoice 6% interest applies if return is not filed in 6
months Exemptions:
Estates $40,000 or less Estates passing to spouse $500,000 or
less
![Page 8: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Probate Fee Lien8
New lien for probate fees Additional to estate tax lien Applies to all real estate, including jointly-
owned property Applies to percentage fees and interest
![Page 9: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Probate Court Rules of Procedure9
Comprehensive rewrite published in 2013 Goals:
Uniformity User ease Streamline non-contested cases Resolve contested cases quickly and
efficiently Rules are available on ctprobate.gov or
may be purchased in paperback Biennial update
![Page 10: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
P.A. 13-81: Estate Examiner10
Expands permissible roles of estate examiner Court can appoint estate examiner to:
Investigate decedent’s assets Determine whether a full or small estate is
needed Obtain information about possible wrongful
death or other claims
Identify non-probate assets such as life insurance
No fiduciary powers Information gathering only
![Page 11: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
P.A. 13-212: Access to Safe Deposit Box11
Prior law: Permitted only to locate will Expanded authority: Probate Court can
grant access to specified jointly-owned assets: Stocks and bonds Annuities Certificates of Deposit
Bank officer must inventory contents of box and report to court on items removed from box
![Page 12: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
P.A. 14-204: Custody of Remains12
Permits attorney in fact or conservator to execute document directing disposition of remains or designating
a person to have custody of remains Conservators:
Need explicit authority from Probate Court May not revoke prior document without court order Document terminates if conserved person is
restored If no designation of person to have custody and a
class of individuals is entitled to custody: Majority rule
![Page 13: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
P.A. 15-217: Affidavit in Lieu of Administration13
Small estate procedure applies when: Probate assets do not exceed $40,000 Decedent had no solely-owned real
estate Statute rewritten for clarity 30-day waiting period for DAS All claims must be listed May be used even if estate is insolvent
![Page 14: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Probate Court IT Initiatives
Website with fillable forms and user guides (current)
Document management system (2016) Online billing for attorneys and
conservators (2017) Optional e-filing (2018-19)
14
![Page 15: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Re-engineered process for how clerks handle files
Filings digitized immediately on receipt QR code on forms tells the system:
Type of filing Expedited action required Confidential or sealed Ex Parte communication Record for permanent record Filing rejected
15
Document Management System
![Page 16: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Document Management System16
Users can scan QR code for website link Improved search capability
Documents filed with the case Search all courts from one location
Simpler forms with better instructions
![Page 17: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
E-Filing17
Users will have option of electronic filing “Interview” format to assist users in
preparing forms Labor saving for users and court staff Parties have online access to court files
![Page 18: Connecticut Funeral Directors Thursday, December 3, 2015 Paul J. Knierim Probate Court Administrator New Developments in Probate.](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a4d1aeb7f8b9ab05997aa24/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Questions and Comments18
For more information, please contact:
Office of the Probate Court Administrator186 Newington Road
West Hartford, CT 06110(860) 231-2442
website: ctprobate.gov