Death and taxes: Victoria considers probate fee hike
Nothing is certain except death and taxes, but the end is set to become even more bitter for many Victorian families under a planned court fee hike.
Probate fees for the processing of wills and distribution of a dead person's estate are under review as the state government seeks to cover the cost of the Supreme Court service.
The fee is currently set at $66.80 in Victoria when the estate's total value is less than $500,000.
It rises to $357.80 if the estate is worth between $500,000 and $1 million and peaks at $2257.80 if worth $3 million or more.
The Department of Justice and Community Safety has proposed three options for price changes.
Under its preferred option, a $0 fee tier would be introduced for a "small estates".
Fees would rise to $261.30 for estates worth between that undefined value and less than $250,000, $514.40 for those worth between $250,000 and $500,000 and $1028.80 for those worth between $500,000 and $1 million.
Other brackets would be set at $2563.80 for estates valued at $1 million and $2.5 million, $7185.20 for those between $2.5 million and $5 million and $15,407.40 for those $5 million or more.
The Victorian opposition has accused the Labor government of re-introducing death duties by stealth after their abolition in 1981.
"There are two things in life that were certain up until today: death and taxes," shadow treasurer Brad Rowswell told reporters on Thursday.
"But now after 10 years of Labor we can add one more, and that's death taxes.
"This should not be the legacy of a Labor government that cares."
Premier Jacinta Allan said the preferred option would make probate fees substantially cheaper for a large number of people but no final decision had been made.
"There's a bit of fearmongering and scaremongering and, frankly, just ridiculous commentary that's coming from the Liberal opposition on this today," she told reporters on Thursday.
"We have the lowest fees of anywhere in the country.
"We're looking at how we can continue to support people through this process."
Community consultation on the proposed fee changes will close on July 19 before a final recommendation is made to Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes.
