Judge of Probate

Probate Courts have jurisdiction over a wide variety of matters including:

Trusts and Estates

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

Guardians, Conservators and Civil Commitment

• 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.
   

Parents

• removing unfit parents as guardians of their children;
• hearing the claims of paternity of unwed fathers;
• terminating the parental rights of parents who cannot fulfill their parental responsibilities; and,
• granting adoptions.
   

Other

• granting name changes;
• approving or disapproving the marriage of a youth under the age of sixteen years; and
• waiving the blood tests required for the issuance of a marriage license.