Report: State's probate system loses $20,000 daily

The state's probate court system is losing $20,000 each day and depleting its savings so quickly that it could be broke by 2010, according to new state figures.

The report, prepared shortly before the departure of former Probate Court Administrator James Lawlor, says the system loses $1 million every two months.

Officials say it is being dragged down by massive deficits in probate courts in Connecticut's major cities and the rising cost of health care for its judges and employees.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Chase Rogers warns that Connecticut's 117 local probate courts and their elected judges could be insolvent by 2010 unless changes are made.

Bridgeport's court has the state's largest deficit at more than $111,000, while Hartford's deficit of $109,400 and New Haven's shortfall of $92,068 are not far behind.

The new chief probate court administrator, Paul Knierim, inherited the problems when he was sworn in Oct. 1.

The probate system is supposed to be financially self-sustaining, but Knierim says it may have to ask the General Assembly for help next year.

"We'll probably ask for some general funds, particularly in the area of indigency expenses," Knierim said. "That said, we have to be mindful of the current fiscal circumstance in which the state finds itself."

Probate courts are best known for settling estates and appointing guardians for children and adults who cannot take care of themselves.

Courts in wealthy suburbs, where more estate cases are handled than the more costly guardianship cases, are essentially subsidizing the urban courts that handle many social conflicts, officials said.