|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to a probate fee exemption for estates of members of the |
|
armed forces of the United States who died while serving in a combat |
|
zone. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Chapter I, Texas Probate Code, is amended by |
|
adding Section 11A to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 11A. EXEMPTION FROM PROBATE FEES FOR ESTATES OF CERTAIN |
|
MILITARY SERVICEMEMBERS. (a) In this section, "combat zone" means |
|
an area that the president of the United States by executive order |
|
designates for purposes of 26 U.S.C. Section 112 as an area in which |
|
armed forces of the United States are or have engaged in combat. |
|
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the clerk of a county |
|
court may not charge, or collect from, the estate of a decedent any |
|
of the following fees if the decedent died while in active service |
|
as a member of the armed forces of the United States in a combat |
|
zone: |
|
(1) a fee for or associated with the filing of the |
|
decedent's will for probate; and |
|
(2) a fee for any service rendered by the probate court |
|
regarding the administration of the decedent's estate. |
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |