Connecticut Probate System Praised

Earlier on this blog, I reported on John H. Langbein’s, the Sterling Professor of Law and Legal History at Yale Law School, attack on the Connecticut probate system.

Now, it’s time to report on the other side.  See Jeffrey A. Cooper, Don’t Destroy Strengths of Connecticut Probate, courant.com, Dec. 9, 2005:

Critics of Connecticut’s probate court system are calling for massive consolidation of the state’s 120 local courts. Yet this solution may destroy the best things about probate while doing little to solve the system’s woes. That our probate courts are local, accessible and informal does increase staffing costs and can invite abuse, but also can be our probate system’s greatest strengths.

The virtues of our probate courts are apparent in their handling of exceedingly difficult family issues, such as appointing conservators for incapable persons.

Special thanks to David S. Luber for bringing this article to my attention.