H.B. No. 2207         AN ACT   relating to procedures and fees for the deposit and safekeeping of   wills.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 252.001, Estates Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as   follows:          (a-1)  An attorney, business entity, or other person in   possession of a testator's will may deposit the will with the county   clerk of the county of the testator's last known residence if the   attorney, business entity, or other person is unable to maintain   custody of the will and, after a diligent search, the attorney,   business entity, or other person is not able to contact or locate   the testator.  The attorney, business entity, or other person shall   provide to the county clerk at the time the will is deposited:                (1)  the name and last known address of the testator;   and                (2)  if the will names an executor, the name and last   known address, if available, of each executor named in the will,   including any alternate executors.          (b)  The county clerk shall receive and keep a [the] will   deposited under this section on the payment of a $5 fee.          SECTION 2.  Section 252.002, Estates Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as   follows:          (b)  The wrapper of a will deposited under Section 252.001(a)   must be endorsed with:                (1)  "Will of," followed by the name, address, and   signature of the testator; and                (2)  the name and current address of each person who is   to be notified of the deposit of the will after the testator's   death.          (c)  The wrapper of a will deposited under Section   252.001(a-1) must be endorsed with:                (1)  "Will of," followed by the name and last known   address of the testator; and                (2)  if the will names an executor, the name and last   known address, if available, of each executor named in the will,   including any alternate executors.          SECTION 3.  Section 252.101, Estates Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 252.101.  NOTIFICATION BY COUNTY CLERK. A county clerk   shall notify[, by registered mail, return receipt requested,] each   person named on the endorsement of the will wrapper that the will is   on deposit in the clerk's office if:                (1)  an affidavit is submitted to the clerk stating   that the testator has died; or                (2)  the clerk receives other notice or proof of the   testator's death sufficient to convince the clerk that the testator   has died.          SECTION 4.  Section 252.104, Estates Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 252.104.  NOTICE AND DELIVERY OF WILL TO EXECUTOR. If a   county clerk inspects a will under Section 252.103 and the will   names an executor, the clerk shall:                (1)  notify the person named as executor[, by   registered mail, return receipt requested,] that the will is on   deposit with the clerk; and                (2)  deliver, on request, the will to the person named   as executor.          SECTION 5.  Section 252.105(a), Estates Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  If a county clerk inspects a will under Section 252.103,   the clerk shall notify [by registered mail, return receipt   requested,] the devisees named in the will that the will is on   deposit with the clerk if:                (1)  the will does not name an executor;                (2)  the person named as executor in the will:                      (A)  has died; or                      (B)  fails to take the will before the 31st day   after the date the notice required by Section 252.104 is mailed to   the person; or                (3)  the notice mailed to the person named as executor   is returned as undelivered.          SECTION 6.  Section 252.151, Estates Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 252.151.  DEPOSIT HAS NO LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE. The   provisions of Subchapter A providing for the deposit of a will with   a county clerk [during the lifetime of a testator] are solely for   the purpose of providing a safe and convenient repository for a   will.  For purposes of probate, a will deposited as provided by   Subchapter A may not be treated differently than a will that has not   been deposited.          SECTION 7.  Section 252.201, Estates Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 252.201.  WILL DELIVERY. (a) On receiving notice of a   testator's death, the person who has custody of the testator's will   shall deliver the will to the clerk of the court that has   jurisdiction of the testator's estate.          (b)  The clerk of the court shall handle the will in the same   manner prescribed by Subchapter A for a will deposited under   Section 252.001 other than collection of a fee under Section   252.001(b).          SECTION 8.  Subchapter E, Chapter 252, Estates Code, is   amended by adding Section 252.2015 to read as follows:          Sec. 252.2015.  NOTICE AND DELIVERY OF WILL TO EXECUTOR OR   DEVISEES. (a)  On the deposit of a will under Section 252.201 that   names an executor, the clerk of the court shall:                (1)  notify the person named as executor in the manner   prescribed by Section 252.104; and                (2)  deliver, on request, the will to the person named   as executor.          (b)  On the deposit of a will under Section 252.201, the   clerk of the court shall notify the devisees named in the will in   the manner prescribed by Section 252.105(a) if:                (1)  the will does not name an executor;                (2)  the person named as executor in the will:                      (A)  has died; or                      (B)  fails to take the will before the 31st day   after the date the notice required by Subsection (a) is mailed to   the person; or                (3)  the notice mailed to the person named as executor   is returned as undelivered.          (c)  On request, the clerk of the court shall deliver the   will to any or all of the devisees notified under Subsection (b).          SECTION 9.  Section 101.0815, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 101.0815.  STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES AND COSTS:   ESTATES CODE.  The clerk of a statutory county court shall collect   fees and costs under the Estates Code as follows:                (1)  fee for deposit of a will with the county clerk by   a testator or another person for a testator during the testator's   lifetime or by an attorney, business entity, or other person unable   to maintain custody of a testator's will and unable to contact or   locate the testator (Sec. 252.001, Estates Code) . . . $5;                (2)  security deposit on filing, by any person other   than the personal representative of an estate, an application,   complaint, or opposition in relation to the estate, if required by   the clerk (Sec. 53.052, Estates Code) . . . probable cost of the   proceeding;                (3)  fee on filing an application, complaint, petition,   or other paper in a guardianship proceeding, which includes a   deposit for payment to an attorney ad litem (Sec. 1052.051, Estates   Code) . . . cost of filing and payment of attorney ad litem;                (4)  security deposit on filing, by any person other   than the guardian, attorney ad litem, or guardian ad litem, an   application, complaint, or opposition in relation to a guardianship   matter, if required by the clerk (Sec. 1053.052, Estates Code)   . . . probable cost of the guardianship proceeding;                (5)  nonrefundable fee to cover the cost of   administering Subchapter G, Chapter 1104, Estates Code   (Sec. 1104.303, Estates Code) . . . $40; and                (6)  costs for attorney ad litem appointed to pursue   the restoration of a ward's capacity or modification of the ward's   guardianship (Sec. 1202.102, Estates Code) . . . reasonable   compensation.          SECTION 10.  Section 101.1014, Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 101.1014.  STATUTORY PROBATE COURT FEES AND COSTS:   ESTATES CODE.  The clerk of a statutory probate court shall collect   fees and costs under the Estates Code as follows:                (1)  fee for deposit of a will with the county clerk by   a testator or another person for a testator during the testator's   lifetime or by an attorney, business entity, or other person unable   to maintain custody of a testator's will and unable to contact or   locate the testator (Sec. 252.001, Estates Code) . . . $5;                (2)  security deposit on filing, by any person other   than the personal representative of an estate, an application,   complaint, or opposition in relation to the estate, if required by   the clerk (Sec. 53.052, Estates Code) . . . probable cost of the   proceeding;                (3)  fee on filing an application, complaint, petition,   or other paper in a guardianship proceeding, which includes a   deposit for payment to an attorney ad litem (Sec. 1052.051, Estates   Code) . . . cost of filing and payment of attorney ad litem;                (4)  security deposit on filing, by any person other   than the guardian, attorney ad litem, or guardian ad litem, an   application, complaint, or opposition in relation to a guardianship   matter, if required by the clerk (Sec. 1053.052, Estates Code)   . . . probable cost of the guardianship proceeding;                (5)  nonrefundable fee to cover the cost of   administering Subchapter G, Chapter 1104, Estates Code   (Sec. 1104.303, Estates Code) . . . $40; and                (6)  costs for attorney ad litem appointed to pursue   the restoration of a ward's capacity or modification of the ward's   guardianship (Sec. 1202.102, Estates Code) . . . reasonable   compensation.          SECTION 11.  Section 101.1215, Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 101.1215.  COUNTY COURT FEES AND COSTS: ESTATES CODE.     The clerk of a county court shall collect the following fees and   costs under the Estates Code:                (1)  fee for deposit of a will with the county clerk by   a testator or another person for a testator during the testator's   lifetime or by an attorney, business entity, or other person unable   to maintain custody of a testator's will and unable to contact or   locate the testator (Sec. 252.001, Estates Code) . . . $5;                (2)  security deposit on filing, by any person other   than the personal representative of an estate, an application,   complaint, or opposition in relation to the estate, if required by   the clerk (Sec. 53.052, Estates Code) . . . probable cost of the   proceeding;                (3)  fee on filing an application, complaint, petition,   or other paper in a guardianship proceeding, which includes a   deposit for payment to an attorney ad litem (Sec. 1052.051, Estates   Code) . . . cost of filing and payment of attorney ad litem;                (4)  security deposit on filing, by any person other   than the guardian, attorney ad litem, or guardian ad litem, an   application, complaint, or opposition in relation to a guardianship   matter, if required by the clerk (Sec. 1053.052, Estates Code)   . . . probable cost of the guardianship proceeding;                (5)  nonrefundable fee to cover the cost of   administering Subchapter G, Chapter 1104, Estates Code   (Sec. 1104.303, Estates Code) . . . $40; and                (6)  costs for attorney ad litem appointed to pursue   the restoration of a ward's capacity or modification of the ward's   guardianship (Sec. 1202.102, Estates Code) . . . reasonable   compensation.          SECTION 12.  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) . . .   $10.00                      (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)  Deposit and 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                      (H)  Records Technology and Infrastructure Fee if   authorized by the commissioners court of the county (Sec. 118.026)   . . . $ 2.00          SECTION 13.  Section 118.062, Local Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 118.062.  DEPOSIT AND SAFEKEEPING OF WILLS. The fee for   "Deposit and Safekeeping of Wills" under Section 118.052(3) is for   receiving [filing] and keeping wills deposited [held] for   safekeeping. The fee must be paid at the time the will is deposited   with the county clerk [filed].          SECTION 14.  Sections 252.001 and 252.201, Estates Code, as   amended by this Act, and Section 252.2015, Estates Code, as added by   this Act, apply to a will deposited with or delivered to a clerk   described by those sections on or after the effective date of this   Act. A will deposited with or delivered to a clerk described by   those sections before the effective date of this Act is governed by   the law in effect on the date the will was deposited or delivered,   and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 15.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 2207 was passed by the House on May 4,   2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 1, 2 present, not   voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.   No. 2207 on May 21, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 131, Nays 8,   2 present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 2207 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays   1.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor