Substitute Senate Bill No. 324, known as Public Act No. 24-97, is a legislative act concerning the operations and administration of Probate Court. The act includes several amendments to existing statutes, effective October 1, 2024. One significant change is the prohibition of remote acknowledgment for certain legal documents and actions, such as the making of wills, execution of health care instructions, and real estate closings. The act specifies that any such remote acknowledgment will be ineffective and considered a violation of section 51-88. Additionally, the act amends the process for notifying parties in involuntary proceedings involving an Indian child, ensuring that the parent, Indian custodian, and the child's tribe are notified by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested, and providing them with the right of intervention.

The bill also revises the procedures for when the state or its agencies, or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, are involved in commencing a matter in Probate Court. It allows for the acceptance of such matters without an accompanying filing fee, with the fee to be billed to the appropriate agency for later payment. Furthermore, the act modifies the requirements for personal service of citations in certain court proceedings, detailing the methods of service or notification to be used when addresses are unknown or parties are out of state. These changes aim to streamline court operations and ensure proper notification and participation rights for concerned parties, particularly in cases involving Indian children.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 525:
Public Act No. 24-97: