83R6408 MTB-F
 
  By: Patrick H.B. No. 1755
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to authorizing the appointment of a public probate
  administrator; authorizing fees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 25, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 25.00251 to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.00251.  PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR. (a) A
  statutory probate court judge, with the concurrence of the
  commissioners court, may appoint a public probate administrator for
  the county in which the statutory probate court is located. One
  person shall serve as the public probate administrator for all
  statutory probate courts in the county unless the commissioners
  court has authorized additional public probate administrators.
         (b)  If a county has more than one statutory probate court,
  the presiding judges of all of the statutory probate courts located
  in the county shall designate, by a majority vote, a specific
  statutory probate court judge to appoint and administer the office
  of the public probate administrator in that county. If the
  statutory probate court judges cannot, by a majority vote,
  determine which statutory probate court judge shall appoint and
  administer the office of the public probate administrator in that
  county, the chief presiding statutory probate court judge shall
  cast the tiebreaking vote to decide which statutory probate court
  judge shall appoint and administer the office of the public probate
  administrator in that county.
         (c)  The public probate administrator may be a person, a
  charitable organization, or any other suitable entity.
         (d)  The commissioners court shall set the compensation of
  the public probate administrator.
         (e)  The public probate administrator, with the consent of
  and at salaries set by the commissioners court, may employ
  assistants, deputies, clerks, and any other employees as necessary
  to carry out Chapter 455, Estates Code.
         SECTION 2.  Subtitle J, Title 2, Estates Code, as effective
  January 1, 2014, is amended by adding Chapter 455 to read as
  follows:
  CHAPTER 455. PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR
         Sec. 455.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "public probate
  administrator" means the public probate administrator appointed
  under Section 25.00251, Government Code.
         Sec. 455.002.  BOND OF PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR. (a)
  The public probate administrator must execute an official bond of
  at least $100,000 conditioned as required by law and payable to the
  statutory probate court judge who appointed the public probate
  administrator.
         (b)  In addition to the official bond of office, at any time,
  for good cause, the statutory probate court judge who appointed the
  public probate administrator may require the administrator to post
  an additional corporate surety bond for individual estates. The
  additional bonds shall bear the written approval of the judge
  requesting the additional bond.
         (c)  The county may choose to self-insure the public probate
  administrator for the minimum bond amount required by this section.
         Sec. 455.003.  FUNDING OF PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR'S
  OFFICE. A public probate administrator is entitled to commissions
  under Subchapter A, Chapter 352, to be paid into the county
  treasury. The public probate administrator's office, including
  salaries, is funded, in part, by the commissions.
         Sec. 455.004.  POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) On receipt of notice
  of a decedent for whose estate a personal representative has not
  been appointed and who has no known or suitable next of kin, the
  public probate administrator shall take prompt possession or
  control of the decedent's property located in the county that:
               (1)  is considered by the public probate administrator
  to be subject to loss, injury, waste, or misappropriation; or
               (2)  the court orders into the possession and control
  of the public probate administrator after notice to the public
  probate administrator.
         (b)  The public probate administrator is responsible for
  determining if the decedent has any heirs or a will and, if
  necessary, shall make burial arrangements with the appropriate
  county facility in charge of indigent burial if there are no known
  personal representatives.
         (c)  If the public probate administrator determines the
  decedent executed a will, the administrator shall file the will
  with the county clerk.
         (d)  The public probate administrator has all of the powers
  and duties of an administrator under this title.
         (e)  The public probate administrator may dispose of any
  unclaimed property by public auction or private sale, or donation
  to a charity, if appropriate.
         (f)  The statutory probate court judge or commissioners
  court may request accountings in addition to accountings otherwise
  required by this title.
         Sec. 455.005.  INFORMING PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR. (a)
  If a public officer or employee knows of a decedent without known or
  suitable next of kin or knows of property of a decedent that is
  subject to loss, injury, waste, or misappropriation, the officer or
  employee may inform the public probate administrator of that fact.
         (b)  If a person dies in a hospital, mental health facility,
  or board and care facility without known or suitable next of kin,
  the person in charge of the hospital or facility may give immediate
  notice of that fact to the public probate administrator of the
  county in which the hospital or facility is located.
         (c)  A funeral director in control of a decedent's remains
  may notify the public probate administrator if:
               (1)  none of the persons listed in Section 711.002,
  Health and Safety Code, can be found after a reasonable inquiry or
  contacted by reasonable means; or
               (2)  any of the persons listed in Section 711.002,
  Health and Safety Code, refuses to act.
         Sec. 455.006.  PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR'S INITIATION OF
  ADMINISTRATION. (a) The public probate administrator shall
  investigate a decedent's estate and circumstances to determine if
  the opening of an administration is necessary if the public probate
  administrator has reasonable cause to believe that the decedent
  found in the county or believed to be domiciled in the county in
  which the administrator is appointed does not have a personal
  representative appointed for the decedent's estate.
         (b)  The public probate administrator shall secure a
  decedent's estate or resolve any other circumstances related to a
  decedent, if, after the investigation, the public probate
  administrator determines that:
               (1)  the decedent has an estate that may be subject to
  loss, injury, waste, or misappropriation; or
               (2)  there are other circumstances relating to the
  decedent that require action by the public probate administrator.
         (c)  To establish reasonable cause under Subsection (a), the
  public probate administrator may require an information letter
  about the decedent that contains the following:
               (1)  the name, address, date of birth, and county of
  residence of the decedent;
               (2)  a description of the relationship between the
  interested person and the decedent;
               (3)  a statement of the suspected cause of death of the
  decedent;
               (4)  the names and telephone numbers of any known
  friends or relatives of the decedent;
               (5)  a description of any known property of the
  decedent, including the estimated value of the property; and
               (6)  a statement of whether the property is subject to
  loss, injury, waste, or misappropriation.
         Sec. 455.007.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION. (a) A public probate
  administrator who has made an investigation under Section 455.006
  may present to the statutory probate court judge a statement of the
  known facts relating to a decedent with a request for permission to
  take possession or control of property of the decedent and further
  investigate the matter.
         (b)  On presentation of a statement under Subsection (a), a
  statutory probate court judge may issue an order authorizing the
  public probate administrator to take possession or control of
  property under this chapter. A public probate administrator may
  record the order in any county in which property subject to the
  order is located.
         (c)  On presentation of an order issued under this section, a
  financial institution, governmental or private agency, retirement
  fund administrator, insurance company, licensed securities dealer,
  or any other person shall perform the following without requiring a
  death certificate or letters of administration and without
  inquiring into the truth of the order:
               (1)  provide the public probate administrator complete
  information concerning property held in the name of the decedent
  referenced in the order, without charge, including the names and
  addresses of any beneficiaries and any evidence of a beneficiary
  designation; and
               (2)  grant the public probate administrator access to a
  safe deposit box rented in the name of the decedent referenced in
  the order, without charge, for the purpose of inspection and
  removal of its contents.
         (d)  Costs and expenses incurred in drilling or forcing a
  safe deposit box open under Subsection (c) shall be paid by the
  decedent's estate.
         Sec. 455.008.  SMALL ESTATES. (a) If gross assets of an
  estate do not exceed 10 percent of the maximum amount authorized for
  a small estate affidavit under Section 205.001, the public probate
  administrator may act without issuance of letters testamentary or
  of administration if the court approves a statement of
  administration stating:
               (1)  the name and domicile of the decedent;
               (2)  the date and place of death of the decedent; and
               (3)  the name, address, and relationship of each known
  heir or devisee of the decedent.
         (b)  On approval of the statement of administration, the
  public probate administrator may:
               (1)  take possession of, collect, manage, and secure
  the personal property of the decedent;
               (2)  sell the decedent's personal property at private
  or public sale or auction, without a court order;
               (3)  distribute personal property to the estate's
  personal representative if one is appointed after the statement of
  administration is filed;
               (4)  distribute personal property to a distributee of
  the decedent who presents an affidavit complying with Chapter 205;
               (5)  sell or abandon perishable property of the
  decedent if necessary to preserve the estate;
               (6)  make necessary funeral arrangements for the
  decedent and pay reasonable funeral charges with estate assets;
               (7)  distribute to a minor heir or devisee for whom a
  guardian has not been appointed the share of an intestate estate or
  a devise to which the heir or devisee is entitled; and
               (8)  distribute allowances and exempt property as
  provided by this title.
         (c)  On the distribution of property and internment of the
  decedent under this section, the public probate administrator shall
  file with the clerk an affidavit, to be approved by the court,
  detailing:
               (1)  the property collected;
               (2)  the property's distribution;
               (3)  the cost of internment; and
               (4)  the place of internment.
         Sec. 455.009.  SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT.  (a)  If gross assets
  of an estate do not exceed the maximum amount authorized for a small
  estate affidavit under Section 205.001, the public probate
  administrator may file an affidavit that complies with Chapter 205
  for approval by the statutory probate court judge.
         (b)  If the statutory probate court judge approves the
  affidavit, the affidavit:
               (1)  must be maintained or recorded as provided by
  Section 205.005; and
               (2)  has the effect described by Section 205.007.
         Sec. 455.010.  GRANT OF ADMINISTRATION. (a) A public
  probate administrator shall file an application for letters of
  administration or administration with will annexed as provided by
  this title:
               (1)  if gross assets of an estate exceed the maximum
  amount authorized for a small estate affidavit under Section
  205.001;
               (2)  if the property of the decedent cannot be disposed
  of using other methods detailed in this chapter; or
               (3)  at the discretion of the public probate
  administrator or on order of the statutory probate court judge.
         (b)  After issuance of letters of administration, the public
  probate administrator is considered a personal representative
  under this title and has all of the powers and duties of a personal
  representative under this title.
         Sec. 455.011.  WITHDRAWAL OF PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR
  AND APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR. (a) If a public probate
  administrator has taken any action under Section 455.008, 455.009,
  or 455.010 and a qualified person more entitled to serve as a
  personal representative under Section 304.001 comes forward or a
  will of a decedent is found naming an executor, the public probate
  administrator may surrender the administration of the estate and
  the assets of the estate to the person once the person has qualified
  under this title.
         (b)  Before surrendering the administration of the estate,
  the public probate administrator must file a verified affidavit
  that shows fully and in detail:
               (1)  the condition of the estate;
               (2)  the charges and claims that have been approved or
  established by suit or that have been rejected and may be
  established later;
               (3)  the amount of each claim that has been rejected and
  may be established later;
               (4)  the property of the estate in the administrator's
  possession; and
               (5)  any other facts that are necessary in determining
  the condition of the estate.
         (c)  The court may require any other filing from the public
  probate administrator that the court considers appropriate to fully
  show the condition of the estate before surrendering the estate
  under this section.
         Sec. 455.012.  DEPOSIT OF FUNDS INTO THE COUNTY TREASURY.
  The public probate administrator shall deposit all funds coming
  into the custody of the administrator in the county treasury. Funds
  deposited must be dispersed at the direction of the public probate
  administrator and according to the guidelines of the county
  treasurer or auditor.
         SECTION 3.  Section 304.001(a), Estates Code, as effective
  January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The court shall grant letters testamentary or of
  administration to persons qualified to act, in the following order:
               (1)  the person named as executor in the decedent's
  will;
               (2)  the decedent's surviving spouse;
               (3)  the principal devisee of the decedent;
               (4)  any devisee of the decedent;
               (5)  the next of kin of the decedent;
               (6)  a creditor of the decedent;
               (7)  any person of good character residing in the
  county who applies for the letters; [and]
               (8)  any other person who is not disqualified under
  Section 304.003; and
               (9)  any appointed public probate administrator.
         SECTION 4.  Section 118.052, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 118.052.  FEE SCHEDULE. Each clerk of a county court
  shall collect the following fees for services rendered to any
  person:
               (1)  CIVIL COURT ACTIONS
                     (A)  Filing of Original Action (Sec. 118.053):
                           (i)  Garnishment after judgment . . . $15.00
                           (ii)  All others . . . $40.00
                     (B)  Filing of Action Other than Original (Sec.
  118.054) . . . $30.00
                     (C)  Services Rendered After Judgment in Original
  Action (Sec. 118.0545):
                           (i)  Abstract of judgment . . . $ 5.00
                           (ii)  Execution, order of sale, writ, or
  other process . . . $ 5.00
               (2)  PROBATE COURT ACTIONS
                     (A)  Probate Original Action (Sec. 118.055):
                           (i)  Probate of a will with independent
  executor, administration with will attached, administration of an
  estate, guardianship or receivership of an estate, or muniment of
  title . . . $40.00
                           (ii)  Community survivors . . . $40.00
                           (iii)  Small estates . . . $40.00
                           (iv)  Declarations of heirship . . . $40.00
                           (v)  Mental health or chemical dependency
  services . . . $40.00
                           (vi)  Additional, special fee (Sec. 118.064)
  . . . $ 5.00
                     (B)  Services in Pending Probate Action (Sec.
  118.056):
                           (i)  Filing an inventory and appraisement as
  provided by Section 118.056(d) . . . $25.00
                           (ii)  Approving and recording bond . . . $
  3.00
                           (iii)  Administering oath . . . $ 2.00
                           (iv)  Filing annual or final account of
  estate . . . $25.00
                           (v)  Filing application for sale of real or
  personal property . . . $25.00
                           (vi)  Filing annual or final report of
  guardian of a person . . . $10.00
                           (vii)  Filing a document not listed under
  this paragraph after the filing of an order approving the inventory
  and appraisement or after the 120th day after the date of the
  initial filing of the action, whichever occurs first, if more than
  25 pages . . . $25.00
                     (C)  Adverse Probate Action (Sec. 118.057) . . .
  $40.00
                     (D)  Claim Against Estate (Sec. 118.058) . . . $
  2.00
                     (E)  Supplemental Court-Initiated Guardianship
  Fee in Probate Original Actions and Adverse Probate Actions (Sec.
  118.067) . . . $20.00
                     (F)  Supplemental Public Probate Administrator
  Fee For Counties That Have Appointed a Public Probate Administrator
  (Sec. 118.068) . . . $10.00
               (3)  OTHER FEES
                     (A)  Issuing Document (Sec. 118.059): original
  document and one copy . . . $ 4.00
  each additional set of an original and one copy . . . $ 4.00
                     (B)  Certified Papers (Sec. 118.060): for the
  clerk's certificate . . . $ 5.00
  plus a fee per page or part of a page of . . . $ 1.00
                     (C)  Noncertified Papers (Sec. 118.0605): for
  each page or part of a page . . . $ 1.00
                     (D)  Letters Testamentary, Letter of
  Guardianship, Letter of Administration, or Abstract of Judgment
  (Sec. 118.061) . . . $ 2.00
                     (E)  Safekeeping of Wills (Sec. 118.062) . . . $
  5.00
                     (F)  Mail Service of Process (Sec. 118.063) . . .
  same as sheriff
                     (G)  Records Management and Preservation Fee
  . . . $ 5.00
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter C, Chapter 118, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 118.068 to read as follows:
         Sec. 118.068.  SUPPLEMENTAL PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR
  FEE. (a) The "supplemental public probate administrator fee" under
  Section 118.052(2)(F) is for the support of the office of public
  probate administrator under Chapter 455, Estates Code. Fees
  collected under Section 118.052(2)(F) shall be deposited in the
  county treasury to fund the expenses of the public probate
  administrator's office.
         (b)  The supplemental public probate administrator fee is
  charged for:
               (1)  a probate original action described by Section
  118.055 and for which a fee is charged in accordance with Section
  118.052(2)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v); and
               (2)  an adverse probate action described by Section
  118.057 and for which a fee is charged in accordance with Section
  118.052(2)(C).
         (c)  The supplemental public probate administrator fee must
  be paid by the person against whom the fee for a probate original
  action or adverse probate action, as applicable, is charged and is
  due at the time that fee is due.
         (d)  The supplemental public probate administrator fee is in
  addition to all other fees charged in probate original actions and
  adverse probate actions.
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter E, Chapter 101, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 101.08145 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.08145.  ADDITIONAL STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES AND
  COSTS: LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a statutory county court
  shall collect a supplemental public probate administrator fee of
  $10 under Sections 118.052 and 118.068, Local Government Code.
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter F, Chapter 101, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 101.103 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.103.  ADDITIONAL STATUTORY PROBATE COURT FEES AND
  COSTS: LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a statutory probate
  court shall collect a supplemental public probate administrator fee
  of $10 under Sections 118.052 and 118.068, Local Government Code.
         SECTION 8.  Subchapter G, Chapter 101, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 101.12145 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.12145.  ADDITIONAL COUNTY COURT FEES AND COSTS:
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a county court shall collect a
  supplemental public probate administrator fee of $10 under Sections
  118.052 and 118.068, Local Government Code.
         SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2014.