SB 219 - Probate Court Operations Summary

• Allows Probate Courts to transfer cases to another Probate Court with jurisdiction when the transferring court lacks jurisdiction, with written findings conclusive for further proceedings except on appeal; transfers include certified copies of all documents at no additional filing fee.

• Updates terminology throughout probate statutes, including changing "Court of Probate" to "Probate Court" and "inhabitants" to "residents," and expands definitions of conservators to include limited liability companies, partnerships, and other entities recognized under state law.

• Modifies fees for non-decedent estate filings to $225 for various motions and petitions including guardianship, adoption, conservatorship, and trust matters, with specific exceptions such as $150 for custody of remains and $350 per day for mediation services.

• Revises visitation rights provisions to specify that courts may grant visitation to parents/guardians with temporary custody, removed guardians, or relatives in removal, guardianship, or parental rights termination proceedings under updated statutory sections.

• Reforms conservator hearing and accounting requirements by establishing three-year accounting periods with consolidated hearings at the end of each period, eliminating separate filing-only accounts, and allowing courts to excuse accounts under Supreme Court rules.