SB 959 - Probate Court Operations Summary

• Sets filing fee of $250 for most probate court motions and petitions, including guardianship, adoption, conservatorship, and trust matters (effective July 1, 2021).

• Reduces fee for custody of remains petition to $150, with waiver if the state pays funeral and burial expenses under specified statutes.

• Waives all probate court fees for adoption proceedings involving special needs children and armed forces members who died in service during wartime.

• Allows indigent petitioners to request fee waivers; establishes that service of process expenses are paid from Judicial Department or Probate Court Administration Fund.

• Updates provisions for digital file transfers between probate courts, payment methods (credit card, debit card, electronic funds transfer), and refund procedures for overpayment.