More Than 800 Probate Cases Pending as Judge Warns Courts Lack Staff to Clear Backlog

At the end of 2025, there were over 800 active probate cases being managed by local courts, and more staff is needed to help bring down that number, Superior Court Presiding Judge Jessica Gallivan told lawmakers on Thursday.    Judge Gallivan was among several witnesses who testified before the Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure, and Planning, offering insight into the challenges surrounding heirs’ property and probate issues. The Superior Court, she said, is “deeply aware of its responsibility and we remain committed to moving our probate matters forward diligently and fairly.” However, Gallivan was keenly aware of the challenges that slow the process down.  She remarked that the delays in probate cases are “often the result of multiple intersecting factors rather than a single cause.” Among them are errors or omissions in filings, non-responsive parties or attorneys, disagreements over interpretations of wills, trusts and other legal documents, as well as disputes amon...