Connecticut2026Passed Legislature
SB00400
Changes to Probate Court Rules and Appeals
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 6:19 AM
In one sentence
This law updates how probate courts handle cases involving children, changes rules for appealing court decisions with different time limits based on the case type, makes certain family records private, and clarifies who can ask the court to restore gun rights.
What it does
- Defines 'children's matters' to include guardianship, adoption, termination of parental rights, emancipation, surrogacy agreements, name changes for minors, claims for parentage, and voluntary admission matters.
- Allows people with federal bans on owning guns due to mental health rulings in this state to ask the Probate Court for relief from that ban.
- Makes records about child custody, adoption, guardianship, termination of parental rights, temporary guardianship, emancipation, and appointment of statutory parents confidential so only specific parties can see them.
- Sets different time limits for filing appeals against probate court orders: 45 days for certain matters listed in the law and 30 days for other matters.
- Requires people who file an appeal to send a copy of their complaint to all interested parties by hand or mail, and also mail one copy to the original Probate Court.
Who it affects
- Probate Courts and judges in Connecticut
- People involved in cases about children, guardianship, adoption, emancipation, or parentage
- Individuals who have been banned from owning firearms due to mental health adjudications rendered in this state
- The Department of Children and Families and licensed child-placing agencies
Limits and unknowns
- The law has different effective dates for its sections: some take effect immediately upon passage, others on October 1, 2026, and one section takes effect January 1, 2027.
- The provided text cuts off before finishing Section 4(l), so details about referring appeals to special assignment judges are incomplete.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Probate Court
- A court that handles wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and other family matters.
- Termination of parental rights
- The legal process where a parent loses all legal rights to their child permanently.
- Emancipation
- A legal status that makes a minor independent from their parents before they turn 18.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
To make various changes concerning Probate Court administrative processes, court procedures and the training of Probate Court judges and to repeal provisions relating to the establishment of a working group.
Official activity
Bill history
- Signed by the Governor
- Transmitted to the Secretary of State
- Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
- Public Act 26-87LCO
- House Passed
- In Concurrence
- Senate Passed
- Rules Suspended, Transmitted to the House
- Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
- House Calendar Number 520
- Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO
- Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
- Senate Calendar Number 381
- File Number 588LCO
- Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/13/26 12:00 PMLCO
- Filed with Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO
- Joint Favorable SubstituteJUD
- Public Hearing 03/20
- Referred to Joint Committee on Judiciary