Montgomery Probate Offices Understaffed

You could be holding your number for a while when you visit the probate office.

 

And that’s because the county just can’t afford to hire more employees. 

 

The county commission funds the office, so probate judge steven reed referred us to Reed ingram. 

 

“For the last four years we’ve been in a hiring freeze. Now when somebody needs something to where it brings revenue in we’ve been real sensitive to that. And we also have been real sensitive, we haven’t put a hiring freeze on law enforcement,” said County Commissioner Reed Ingram.

 

The new probate office on Atlanta highway has been open for about a year. Ingram says that’s made it the most popular, leading to the worst wait times. 

 

But customers are happy to wait a little longer if it means a better quality location. 

 

“I just love the building, it’s very nice, it’s nice and clean, it’s comfortable. The workers have been really friendly. I’ve had no problem with anything that I’ve come to do,” said Shirley Blevins.

 

“I’ve been here once before since they’ve moved to this location on atlanta highway. At that point I saw the sign that warned about the lengthy wait and it was not bad,” Fred Blackmon agreed. 

 

But Ingram says they’re working on a plan to help cut down on the heavy traffic to the Atlanta highway location. It’s still in the planning phase, but could give residents a better option.

 

“We’re going to possibly open up a new southside location. We’re exploring that now. It’s much needed. It’s on Woodley Road now. It’s not in a very good location. And also the facilities are not very consumer friendly,” said Ingram. 

 

And Blackmon hopes that a new location is just the start of the solution. 

 

“Let’s hope the budget opens up to where staffing can improve. But so far it hasn’t been too bad,” he said.