SWANSEA - The Bristol County Bar Association will conduct a candidates forum for Bristol County register of probate hopefuls at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Venus de Milo restaraunt.

The event is free and the public is invited.

Candidates for the position are Democrats John G. DeJesus, John C. O'Neil, Gina L. DeRossi and David J. Dennis, Republican Robert C. Heroux and Roy D. Santos, unenrolled. All candidates have accepted the invitation to attend, organizers said.

The Democratic primary is Sept. 16 and the Bar Association said this is the first time in almost 25 years that there has been a contested race for register of probate.

The register is the chief administrator for the Bristol County Probate and Family Court, which primarily handles divorces, child custody and visitation, wills, estates and guardianships. The moderator for the forum will be attorney Steven P. Sabra of Somerset.

The format will provide candidates the opportunity to make opening statements, followed by questions from a panel of lawyers and closing statements by each candidate.

The panel of lawyers consists of Max Volterra of Attleboro, Steven Torres of Taunton, James Killoran of Fall River and Sheila Tierney of New Bedford.