As the Probate Judge, the Clerk determines what documents meet the legal requirements for a Last Will and Testament in order to be admitted to probate.
Additionally, the Clerk oversees the administration of family estates, including appointing personal representatives, auditing their accountings, and removing them from office if necessary.
The Clerk also presides over many other legal matters, including incompetency and guardianship proceedings, foreclosures, partitions of property, legitimations, name changes, adoptions, and many civil hearings.