TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE STATEWIDE RESPONSE TO MINORS EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OCTOBER 6, 2015 MEETING!

NEWS IN FROM THE AP RE CT PROBATE COURT!

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Court officials say Connecticut is now the most expensive place to die in the U.S. — at least for the wealthy — because of hefty new fees for settling estates.

Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Democrat-controlled legislature signed off on a plan effective July 1 that eliminated a $12,500 cap on probate court fees, cut all state government funding to probate courts and doubled the fee on estates worth more than $2 million to 0.5 percent of the value.

Probate officials surveyed all 50 states and say Connecticut has the highest probate fees in the country. They're warning that without a cap, some bills could top $1 million and many will be more than $100,000.

Critics say the fees are unfair and may prompt wealthy people to move.

FBI CHARGES CT ATTORNEY WITH STEALING $1.8 MILLION FROM HIS CLIENT'S ESTATE!

The following information appeared on the FBI website:

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PETER M. CLARK, 57, of Woodbury, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with stealing more than $1.8 million from the estate of an Oxford woman who died in 2010.

According to the criminal complaint, Miriam S. Strong of Oxford died on July 2, 2010. At the time of her death, Strong had a will, which left money, property and other items to a list of individuals, the Town of Oxford, the State of Connecticut, and several religious and other charitable entities. The will also called for the creation of a scholarship fund for college-bound students from Oxford. CLARK drafted the will as Strong’s attorney and served as a witness to Strong’s execution of the will. The will named CLARK and another individual as co-executors. The investigation has revealed that, during the course of the administration of the will, CLARK took at least $1.8 million from Strong’s estate for his own use.

The complaint charges CLARK with one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

CLARK was arrested this morning at his residence. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A.L. Merriam in New Haven and will be released after he posts a $500,000 bond that will be co-signed by family members.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut State Police—Western District Major Crime Squad. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah P. Karwan.

This content has been reproduced from its original source.

http://www.fbi.gov/newhaven/press-releases/2015/attorney-charged-with-stealing-1.8-million-from-oxford-womans-estate?utm_campaign=email-Immediate&utm_medium=email&utm_source=new-haven-press-releases&utm_content=431993

INTRODUCED BY SEN. MICHAEL MCLACHLAN, PROPOSED BILL NO. 660, TO ESTABLISH A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CONSERVATORS!

General Assembly		Proposed Bill No. 660
January Session, 2015		LCO No. 2327
		*02327*
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
SEN. MCLACHLAN, 24th Dist.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CONSERVATORS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

That chapter 801 of the general statutes be amended to require the Probate Court Administrator to develop and implement a professional code of conduct applicable to any conservator appointed in a Probate Court matter.

Statement of Purpose:
To require the Probate Court Administrator to develop and implement a professional code of conduct for conservators appointed in Probate Court matters.