Probate Bench-Bar Committee Meeting: June 8th Key Take-Aways
Notes from the June 8th Probate Bench-Bar Committee meeting:
• The “in-person” requirement for permanent hearings continues to pose issues for process servers, GAL’s, and others who must visit the ward; the burden will be on the petitioning attorney to confirm that all who must visit the ward in-person are able to do so and to serve as the contact person to arrange the meetings.
• GAL’s may decline appointments.
• The WATTS calendar remains suspended.
• Probate hearings will not be scheduled in-person until further order of the Chief Judge.
• Hearings on objections to claims may be held via Zoom.
• For hearings to be held via Zoom, instructions will be provided with the code and password for the hearing; the Affidavit of Mailing should identify that these instructions have been provided to all interested parties.
• Contact information for the clerks who schedule hearings is as follows:
[email protected] 414.278.4426
[email protected] 414.278.4458
[email protected] 414.278.4488
[email protected] 414.278.4517
• All staff and visitors must wear masks at the courthouse; nobody will be allowed in a courtroom without a mask; plexiglass is being installed in the courtrooms, offices of the Deputy Registers in Probate, and at BHD.
• Judge Murray rotates to Children’s Court on August 1.
• The Spring GAL CLE has been rescheduled as a three-part series comprised of one-hour presentations; registration may be for one, two, or all three, with a discount given if registered for all three.
Tuesday, June 30 (12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.) TRO/Adult-at-Risk Injunction Do’s and Don’ts for GALs
Thursday, July 9 (12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.) Guardianship Powers: Too Much, Too Little or Just Right
Thursday, July 23 (12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.) Who You Gonna Call? Milwaukee ADRC
• The Volunteer Lawyers Project through Legal Action of Wisconsin seeks volunteers for uncontested informal probates and matters such as house transfers to the surviving spouse
• This meeting was Renee Ruffin Nawrocki’s last meeting after two years as Co-Chair of this committee; she begins her term as President of the Association for Women Lawyers next month. Avery Mayne has volunteered to serve as Co-Chair.
• The next Bench-Bar Meeting via Zoom will be on Monday, July 6 at 12:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Nancy L. Shue