The Council by resolution shall appoint a Judge
of Probate to serve for a term of office concurrent with that of the
Council and until a successor is appointed and qualified. The Judge
of Probate and all Probate Judges Pro Tem shall be members of the
bar of the Supreme Court of the State and engaged in the active practice
of law.
Whenever the Judge of Probate Court is a party or interested in any proceeding about to be heard in court, or is absent or unable to perform the duties, or there is a vacancy in such office, duties shall be temporarily performed by the Town Solicitor, or any assistant Town Solicitor, or in the event no such solicitor is qualified, by such person appointed by the Town Council having the qualifications set forth in Section 15-1-1. The fact of any such interest, absence, inability or vacancy shall be recorded in the records of the court.
[Amended 11-4-2014]
The salaries appropriated at the Annual Financial
Town Meeting for the Judge and Clerk of the Probate Court shall be
in lieu of all fees accruing to the Judge of the Probate Court and
Clerk of the Probate Court, by virtue of the provisions of the General
Laws and Special Acts, and the Judge, the Town Clerk and the Clerk
of the Probate Court shall pay all fees and other revenues by them
received as Town Clerk and Clerk of the Probate Court in their several
capacities into the town treasury for the use and benefit of the Town.
Money and other property now or hereafter deposited
in the registry of the Probate Court pursuant to statutes now or hereafter
in effect shall be held, administered and disposed of pursuant to
the statutes.
