Montgomery County’s first statutory probate court began operating this month, but for Judge Claudia Laird it’s been years in the making.
Laird has served as the judge for County Court at Law No. 2 for just over 12 years. During that time, she has handled the county’s probate cases.
With the county’s growth, Laird said the time was right to make the switch and establish a full-time probate court.
The county’s population is estimated to top 1 million by 2030. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Montgomery County’s population has grown to 620,443 in 2020 from 455,749 in 2010.
Laid was sworn in Oct. 1 to preside over Montgomery County Probate Court No. 1. The court also started operations Oct. 1.
“There have been many years put in to prepare for this,” Laird said of the transition to the new court. “We have been operating as a statutory probate court for many years we just haven’t gotten the benefits of being a statutory probate court.”
ON YOURCONROENEWS.COM: Conroe ISD is set to launch new $16.5M transportation facilities, expand bus operations
Laird said there is little change to how probate is handled but said the benefit for residents is that all cases related to probate, including mental health, guardianship and civil, will all be in her court.
Most importantly, Laird said, the county would be eligible to receive more funding per case regarding fees reimbursed through the state.
“You get a bigger dollar value back based on a per case filing in the court,” Laird said.
Commissioners approved the creation of the court in March 2022.
During the court’s Sept. 26 meeting, commissioners approved the Montgomery County Board of District and County Court at Law Judges appointment of Jacqueline Bello and Jarrod Walker as associate judges and Colleen Rice to serve as investigator for the court.
Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said Laird’s plan and transition for the court was “well put together.”
As of Oct. 1, Laird’s caseload that does not fall under the probate court has been transferred to County Court at Law No. 6.
