Marvin Homonoff has presided over many cases in his 33 years as Barrington’s probate court judge, including one involving an antique chair worth half a million dollars. That case, he said, eventually made its way to the state’s Supreme Court.

He also handled a case of a doctor who passed away without a will, leaving a complicated web of assets to resolve.

“People should plan ahead,” Judge Homonoff said, during a recent interview. “I’ve had cases of multi-millionaires in town, doctors who have died without wills. Doctors who might have been married two or three times, now they have children from one marriage, children from the other marriage. You have to untangle it.”

On Dec. 31, Judge Homonoff will retire from his work as the town’s probate court judge. He said he plans to spend more time at his winter home in Florida, and with his five grandchildren who all live out of state. 

“I put in 33 years, and 47 years in (private) practice,” Judge Homonoff said. “Even Red Auerbach retired.”

Judge Homonoff said the work presiding over the town’s probate court has been very challenging at times, and also quite rewarding.

“There have been cases with disabled children… I’ve been fortunate in my family not to have any disabled children, so I’m particularly sensitive when people have disabled children, and I ask them to come to the bench and sit with me and put them at ease because it’s not easy for them to come to court and be subjected to the rigors of a legal proceeding,” he said.

“Then we’ve had areas where the whole town has benefited. Last year, we had the farm across from St. Andrew’s. That went on for a good 12-15 sessions. We had a lot of sessions on that, and eventually I think it worked out to the town’s benefit. A number of lawyers, a number of family members. But that gave me a feeling of satisfaction that it worked out to the town’s benefit.”

Judge Homonoff said he will miss the people he has worked with in the town’s probate court. He made special mention of the clerks.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have wonderful, competent clerks,” he said. “The probate clerks I’ve had, and I’ve had three probate clerks — Lorraine Derois, Linda James, and Meredith DeSisto — have been wonderful, competent people.”

Judge Homonoff said early in his career as a lawyer, he worked for a firm that handled a lot of probate work. That experience eventually led to an interest in serving as a probate court judge.

“…in 1988, there was a new council and they were looking to make a change (with the probate judge) and I submitted my application and name and I was appointed,” he said. “Since then we’ve had Democratic councils, we’ve had Republican councils, and I’ve never been politically allied or involved. I’ve tried to stay Independent, run the court as an independent, and apparently, I’ve been successful in keeping the job for 33 years. Historically in Rhode Island, in certain jurisdictions, it is a political appointment. It says a lot for the councils also, that they understand you’re dealing with peoples’ lives and money, and that politics should not play a role.”

Judge Homonoff said the work has been particularly rewarding at times.

“In addition to the staff that I’ll miss, you get a feeling of accomplishment when you have a disabled child and I sit him here, I see the parents… usually they’re doing a great job. I’ve been blessed with two healthy children, five healthy grandchildren, and to help those kids … for years I was a big brother. I did that. I feel bad for kids who get short-shrift in life,” he said.

When asked what he will miss least about the work, Judge Homonoff mentioned his occasional winter commute. 

“Last year there was one session, either February or March. I left Ft. Lauderdale, and the plane wasn’t coming to Providence, there was a weather issue. They re-routed me, Ft. Lauderdale to Nashville, Tenn., to Boston, and I had to get a ride home from Boston. Eleven hours door-to-door. That’s what I’ll miss the least,” he said.

What is the probate court?

Each city and town in Rhode Island has its own probate court, and the jurisdiction of the probate courts are basically in three categories:

• Administer any wills, and to handle the estates where there are no wills

• To deal with guardianships, any individual who has a disability who has to be placed under guardianship, or any minor who comes into some money, who needs someone to watch his or her money. 

• To handle name change requests