BILL NUMBER: S5278
SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the surrogate's court procedure act, in relation to
establishing new fee rates for large estates
 
PURPOSE::
This bill would amend the filing fee schedule for the value of estates,
ranging from estates less than $10,000 to estates that are worth
$5,000,000 and over.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section 1: Amends Subdivision 7 of the section 2402 of the Surrogate's
Court procedure act by adding more brackets to the filing fee schedule
for estates, capping at $5,000,000.
Section 2: The effective date of this bill.
 
JUSTIFICATION::
Under current law, the filing fee rate charged to estates by the surro-
gate court is determine by a fee schedule, which caps at $1,250 for all
estates over $500,000. This cap is far too low and treats, for purposes
of charging fees, estates worth $500,000 the same as those worth
$50,000,000. This bill seeks to the make the fee schedule more progres-
sive by adding several new brackets past the original cap, including a
new filing fee cap of $10,000 for estates worth $5,000,000 and over.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
S.3315A 2023-2024: Passed Senate, Delivered to Assembly, Referred to
Judiciary;
S.4952 of 2019-20; Referred to Judiciary
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
Increased revenue for surrogate courts through new higher fee brackets
in the fee schedule.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law and shall apply to actions and proceedings commenced on or
after such effective date.