NORTH WINDHAM, CT — The Honorable John J. McGrath, Jr., Administrative Judge of the Northeast Regional Children’s Probate Court, announced Wednesday that the court has moved from its two locations at 508 Pomfret St. in Putnam and 979 Main St. in Willimantic to a single, larger facility at 387A Tuckie Road in North Windham.
“Because we cover such a large geographic area, this space will be more centrally located,” Judge McGrath said.
The new Northeast Regional Children’s Probate Court location will be accessible from Route 6, have adequate parking, and be accessible by public transportation.
The Northeast Regional Children’s Probate Court has jurisdiction over:
Ashford
Woodstock
Consolidating court operations at a single location will also improve service delivery, Judge McGrath said.
“It’s a real advantage to have all our staff in one place,” he said. “We can discuss cases together and provide a much better service to the public. With two family specialists and two staff, we can provide much better coverage.”
The court’s transition to new terms was planned shortly before Labor Day to minimize disruption to services, Judge McGrath said.
Like all probate courts in Connecticut, the Northeast Regional Children’s Probate Court works with families in “times of need.” The Regional Children’s Probate Court brings together probate judges from surrounding probate courts and local and state agencies to “ensure that children and their families can thrive in a safe, stable home environment.”
The staff also includes child development and family relations professionals, called “family specialists,” who lead family conferences to “develop the best care plans for the child and provide support and long-term monitoring.”
Judge McGrath said: “The best long-term outcomes for children are achieved when they remain in the care of family or friend guardians appointed by the probate court in a familiar environment, rather than being placed in foster care.”
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The Northeast Regional Children’s Probate Court is currently open Monday through Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Effective January 6, 2025, the court will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court can still be reached at the same telephone number: 860-928-4844. The new mailing address of the Northeast Regional Children’s Probate Court is 387A Tuckie Road / PO Box 205, North Windham, CT 06256.
