The bill proposes an increase in county surrogate fees and introduces new categories of fees related to probate and guardianship services, amending N.J.S.22A:2-30. It specifies that surrogates, judges, clerks of the Surrogates Court, and deputy clerks will collect fees for the county where the services are rendered, with no service performed until the fee is paid. New fees include a $150 application fee for probate of a will, $100 for guardianship applications, and a standard page fee of $5 for various document filings. The bill aims to streamline the fee structure by consolidating outdated fees into clearer categories and establishing specific charges for actions such as filing complaints and appointing administrators.

Additionally, the bill repeals several sections of existing law to simplify the legal framework governing surrogate fees. It introduces new charges for services like preparing records on appeal and retrieving files not located on court premises, while also establishing a tiered fee structure for withdrawing funds on deposit with the Surrogate, ranging from $50 to $250 based on the withdrawal amount. These changes are intended to ensure that the costs associated with surrogate and court services are clearly defined and updated to reflect current practices, with the bill set to take effect immediately upon passage.