There shall be a judge of probate who shall
exercise and perform the powers and duties of a probate court for
the town, who shall be appointed by the town council by resolution
to serve for a term of office concurrent with that of the council
and until his successor is appointed and qualified.
The judge of probate shall be an attorney at
law in good standing who has been admitted to the practice of law
in this state at least four years prior to his appointment and who
is a qualified elector of the town.
The town clerk council shall determine and fix
the salary of the judge of probate. The clerk of the probate court
shall pay all fees and other revenue received by the probate court
to the town treasurer, on the same day as received, for the use and
benefit of the town.
Whenever the judge of probate court is a party
of or interested in any proceeding about to be heard in his court,
or is absent or unable to perform his duties, or there is a vacancy
in such office, his duties shall be temporarily performed by the town
solicitor, and the fact of such interest, absence, inability or vacancy
shall be recorded in the records of said court. If the vacancy has
been more than ninety days, the town council by resolution shall appoint
another judge of probate to fill out the unexpired term.
