This morning the judiciary proposed the following fees to the House Ways & Means Committee. The court says the fees are an attempt to standardize what is happening in different counties and that the proposal is revenue neutral and doesn't actually raise any fees:
TO: House
Ways and Means
FROM: Trial
Court Operations, Vermont Judiciary
DATE: February
2, 2017
RE: Recommended
Statutory Fee Language
The Finance and RIS divisions have
reviewed the proposed fee changes with the Court Operations division. Our
understanding is that all these proposed fee changes reflect clarification of
court procedures where there is currently uncertainty and/or disparity in
approach. Given the current uncertainty, we understand that there is
variation as to the current level of fee charged. In addition,
particularly regarding probate fees which have only recently been incorporated
into VTADS, there is relatively little historical data that can provide
guidance. For these reasons, it is impossible to identify the number of
instances that the new fee would apply to, and the net new revenue, if any,
that would be raised. However, given the relatively narrow scope of
circumstances that these fees apply to, it can be assumed that any net revenue
change would be small.
1. Family – To Register and Modify a Foreign Order
a. [new statute]: 32 V.S.A. §1431(b)(7) – Prior to the
registration in Vermont of a child custody determination issued by a court of
another state, there shall be paid to the clerk of the court for the benefit of
the State a fee of $90.00 unless the request for registration is filed with a
simultaneous motion to modify, in which event the fee for registration shall be
$40.00 in addition to the fee for the motion as provided in subdivision (4) of
this subsection.
2. Probate – Motion to Reopen Estate
a. [new statute]: 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(29) – Motion to
Reopen Estate dependent on the value of the newly found asset pursuant to (a)(1)-(8)
of this subsection.
3. Probate – Motion to Reopen any other existing Probate case
a. [amending existing statute]: 32 V.S.A. §1431(e) - Prior to the filing of any postjudgment motion in the
Civil, Criminal, Probate,
or Environmental Division of the Superior Court, including motions to reopen
civil suspensions and motions for sealing or expungement in the Criminal
Division pursuant to 13 V.S.A. § 7602, and including motions to reopen existing probate cases,
there shall be paid to the clerk of the court for the benefit of the State a
fee of $90.00 except for small claims actions and estates. A filing fee of
$90.00 shall be paid to the clerk of the court for a civil petition for minor
settlements.
4. Probate – Small Estate Affidavit Procedure Pursuant to Vermont Rules of Probate
Procedure 80.3(h)
a. [new statute]: 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(30) –Petitions
for Small Estate Affidavit Procedure pursuant to VRPP 80.3(h) - $50.00
5. Probate – Request for Findings Regarding Motor Vehicle Title
a. [new statute]: 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(31) – Request for
Findings Regarding Motor Vehicle title pursuant to 23 V.S.A. §2023(e)(2),
$50.00
6. Probate – Clarifying current
language
a. 32 VSA 1434(a)(12) - Annual accounts
on decedents’ estates filed for any period ending more than one year following the
appointment of
administrator or executor opening of the estate., $85.00.
7. All Dockets – Miscellaneous Fee
a. [new statute] – 32 V.S.A. §1751(b)(1)(G) For
exemplified certificates, $10.00.
