New Laws, Accomplishments in Nine Years

New Laws That Affect You

Hi, I am Lisa Wexler, Probate Judge for the Westport-Weston District. Here are some new laws that might affect you:

The Connecticut Parentage Act: This law makes it much easier for parents who use “assisted reproduction” to declare their parentage before the baby is born so that adoption will not be necessary. The proceedings happen in Probate Court.

Estate Tax Rates: Starting in 2023, there is a flat rate of 12% Connecticut estate tax on all estates over $11.4 million. If your estate is under $11.4 million, there is no Connecticut estate tax at all.

Adoption Records Access: All Connecticut-born adoptees now have the unrestricted right to obtain their original birth certificates. This changes the prior law in which children born only in certain years had this right. Adoption proceedings occur in Probate Court.

What Has Judge Lisa Wexler Accomplished in Nine Years? ‌

• Kept Court open full-time during the entirety of Covid. Judge Wexler attended Court five days per week. In-person hearings were resumed promptly after the crisis passed.
• Reduced legal fees of lawyers representing estates.
• Conducted hearings where people were staying if they could not come to Court.
• Changed the way real estate sales were monitored in our Court.
• Appointed Non-Lawyers to Fiduciary Positions.
• Hired a superb clerk staff, including two attorneys.
• Initiated the availability of CDS of Court hearings.
• Opened the Court on Tuesday nights for free lectures.
• Advocated at the State Capitol on many issues affecting vulnerable persons.
• Brought therapy dogs to Court.
• Created a free, quarterly probate law newsletter.
• Became a successful mediator of disputes within the Probate Court system.