Attorney Paul J. Knierim practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, estate and trust administration, and resolution of probate disputes. Paul, a retired probate judge, brings unparalleled problem-solving strategies to bear on even the most complex of issues. He also serves as a mediator to help families to resolve disputes outside of court.
Paul's experience includes more than two decades of service in the judiciary. He served for 12 years as judge of the Simsbury Probate Court. In 2008, the Chief Justice appointed Paul to lead the state’s Probate Courts as Probate Court Administrator, a role he served until 2019. During his 11 years as head of the Probate Court system, Paul was responsible for policy leadership and operation of all 54 of the state’s Probate Courts.
Paul’s experience as a lawyer and judge is enormously valuable to his clients, but he adds even more value with his ability to bring a sense of calm to tense situations and his skill in facilitating creative solutions. A problem solver with deep knowledge of probate law and keen insight into family dynamics, Paul provides objective and practical guidance to help families resolve their conflicts quickly, cost effectively, and with as little drama as possible.
- Yale Law School
- J.D. (1989)
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- Williams College
- B.A. (1986)
- Honors: summa cum laude
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- Partner
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri
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- Counsel
- Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC
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- Probate Court Administrator
- State of Connecticut
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- Judge
- Simsbury Probate Court
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- Partner
- Cummings & Lockwood LLC
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- Partner
- Drew, Mersereau & Knierim
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- State Representative
- Connecticut General Assembly
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- Law Clerk
- Connecticut Supreme Court
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- Probate Courts are a Good Value
- Connecticut Law Tribune
- Probate Courts Protect Vulnerable Citizens From Harm
- The Hartford Courant
- Probate Court Consolidation Yields Savings and Strengthens Professionalism
- Fairfield County Bar Association Newsletter
- Probate 101, Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri Webinar
- Uniform Trust Code, New Haven County Bar
- Testimony for Raised Bill 976, An Act Concerning Conservator Accountability, General Assembly testimony, Hartford, CT
- Testimony for Raised Bill 6104, An Act Concerning Adoption of the Connecticut Uniform Trust Code, General Assembly testimony, Hartford, CT
- Daniel F. Caruso Public Service Award
- CT Probate Assembly
- Treat Award for Excellence
- National College of Probate Judges
- Henry J. Naruk Judiciary Award
- CT Bar Association
- Capitol Caregiver Award
- AARP
- Connecticut Bar
- Current
- Activities: Estate and Probate section, Elder Law section, Opioid Task Force
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- Connecticut Bar Foundation
- Current
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- Elder Justice Coalition
- Member
- Current
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- Connecticut Probate Assembly (Emeritus)
- Current
- Activities: Ethics Committee, Past Chair
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- Simsbury Cemetary Association
- Vice President
- Current
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- National College of Probate Judges
- Current
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- Literacy Volunteers Greater Hartford
- Tutor
- Current
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- Simsbury Land Trust
- Trustee
- Current
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- Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation
- Trustee
- Current
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- CT General Assembly
- State Representative
- Current
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- Governor's Commission on School Choice
- Co-Chair
- Current
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- Estate Planning
- Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- Probate
- Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
- Elder Law
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
- English: Spoken, Written