By BILL MCKERLEYRepublican Candidate
Los Alamos County Probate Judge
I am Bill McKerley and I am a candidate for the position of Probate Judge for Los Alamos County. Before I tell you a little bit about me and why I am a candidate, I thought it might be informative to say a few words about probate and the function of the Probate Judge.
Probate is the judicial process for transferring the property of a person who has died (called decedent). The property is transferred according to either: (1) the decedent’s Will, or (2) if the decedent dies without a Will, according to New Mexico’s laws of intestate succession. The Probate Court appoints legally qualified persons, called Personal Representatives, to manage and settle the decedent’s business affairs. Personal Representatives pass the deceased person’s estate property, real and personal, to the rightful recipients. Rightful recipients might include heirs, devisees named in a valid and current will, or creditors.
The Los Alamos County Probate Court has jurisdiction over an informal probate if:
- The decedent was domiciled in Los Alamos County at the time of death (i.e. Los Alamos County was the permanent place of decedent’s abode); or
- The decedent lived outside New Mexico but owned property in Los Alamos County.
State law authorizes the Probate Courts to:
- Admit wills to informal probate.
- Appoint Personal Representatives informally (without a hearing), when there is no will.
- Appoint Special Administrators.
- Issue Certificates of Full Administration of the Estate.
A large part of the probate judge’s job is to make sure the pleadings (paperwork submitted to the court) are complete and accurate under New Mexico law. It is extremely important that the documents are properly completed and filed. In Los Alamos County we are extremely fortunate to have an extremely competent staff in the County Clerk’s Office. Sharon Stover, LA County Clerk and her team do an outstanding job and represent Los Alamos County well.
I am a 38-year resident of Los Alamos County and retired from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2012 after 34 years of service. I held a number of positions at the Lab including Group Leader, Project Leader and Program Manager.
I believe my commitment to treating people with dignity, honor and respect and my management and leadership experience serve me and the residents of Los Alamos County well as I fill the roles and responsibilities of Probate Judge.
Following the resignation of the previous Probate Judge, I was appointed Feb. 16, 2016 by the County Council to serve in my current capacity.
If elected to continue in this important position I make a commitment to all parties involved in the probate process to resolve and decide issues in a fair and unbiased manner. I will work to ensure that the appropriate statues are followed. I have worked with the County Clerk’s Office in a number of roles and I believe I have a good working relationship with the County Clerk and staff.
I ask for your vote in November.
