Estates

Reduced the estate value threshold for summary administration from $150,000 to $75,000, allowing more estates to be settled without full court proceedings.

Lowered the tax refund limit for deceased individuals from $5,000 to $2,500, permitting direct payment to family members for smaller overpayments.

Decreased the small estate threshold for intestate property disposition from $20,000 to $10,000, simplifying the transfer of assets for very small estates.

Reduced the maximum bank account balance a family member can withdraw without court approval from $2,000 to $1,000.

Created a new section requiring courts to award taxable costs and attorney fees to prevailing personal representatives in enforcement proceedings, with the ability to charge these costs against the person who caused the dispute.

Added mandatory written disclosures for attorneys representing personal representatives regarding fee structures and the right to negotiate fees.

Updated safe-deposit box access rules to require personal representatives to present a copy of their letters of administration to the bank.