31st Circuit - Probate Staff Update and Contacts

As many of you know, we have had some personnel changes in the Probate
Division! The good news is that we are now fully staffed. It is a great team
and I encourage all of you who work in this area to stop in and say hello.

Denise Rowland is our new Probate Clerk. She will be a familiar face to
some of you who do family law as she was Commissioner Marquardt's
clerk for many years. For the last three years, she was Judge Replogle's
clerk in Webster County, where she handled all the probate filings, from
small estates to guardianships to full deceased estates.

Here is our current staff so that when you call our office, you or your
assistant know who to ask for:

1. Denise Rowland: Probate Clerk/Office Manager, 829-6370
2. Mariana Smith: Trusts, Deceased estates, Real estate, Determination of
   Heirships, 829-6369
3. Cale Harper: Adult guardianships, 829-6376
4. Mackenzie Palmer: Minor guardianships, 829-6368
5. Mischa Kursava: Auditor of final and annual settlements, 829-6373
6. Roxie Matthew: Front desk, will admits, abbreviated estates, 829-6367
7. Jeff Starkey: Abbreviated estates, will admits, 829-6372

We have made a few procedural changes in the past month. First, all supporting documentation for annual and final settlements should be efiled, rather than hand delivered to the probate office. Second, in light of the sheriff's move across town, attorneys will be responsible for getting the Respondent served in adult guardianships. We will put the summons on the case as we currently do in minor guardianship cases.

Also, effective July 1, 2022, the standard fee for Respondent's attorney in adult guardianship cases will increase to $600.00 from the current fee of $500.00. So, you will need to add $100.00 to your filing fee as of that date.

On the Webex front, we have returned to in-person hearings for most cases.
However, we continue to provide the video option for matters such as
claims, petitions to sell real estate, determination of heirship petitions and
other routine motions.

We will try and keep you updated on any additional changes as we move
forward. Thanks to all for your patience as we train our new clerks!

Carol Aiken, Probate Commissioner