Senate Bill No. 1501, also known as Public Act No. 25-48, introduces several amendments to the operations of Probate Courts in Connecticut, particularly focusing on the processes for filing birth certificates and handling appeals. A key change allows parents or legal guardians to petition the Probate Court for an order to create and file a birth certificate when a birth occurs outside of an institution, provided the petition is filed before the child's first birthday and includes necessary affidavits and evidence. The bill also modifies the notification timeline for investigations from seven to fifteen business days and clarifies procedures for reconsideration of court orders, ensuring appeals must be filed within thirty days of receiving a complaint.

Additionally, the bill updates the adoption process by requiring applications to be filed in the Probate Court and includes a declaration regarding the child's custody status. It removes previous requirements for duplicate filings and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive report on the child's history. The bill also replaces "Court of Probate" with "Probate Court," allows the court to assess fees for adoption investigations, and prohibits disapproval of adoptions based solely on the adoptive parent's marital status or differences in race, color, or religion. Furthermore, it establishes a working group to address conservatorship issues and allows tort claims against an estate to proceed in Superior Court under specific conditions, effective October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
JUD Joint Favorable:
File No. 741:
Public Act No. 25-48: