H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 633.31, Code 2014, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 4. An assessment of court costs under this 3 section shall not exceed one thousand dollars per case. 4 Sec. 2. Section 633.672, Code 2014, is amended to read as 5 follows: 6 633.672 Payment of court costs in conservatorships. 7 1. No order shall be entered approving an annual report of 8 a conservator until the court costs which have been docketed 9 have been paid or provided for. 10 2. An assessment of court costs under this section shall not 11 exceed one thousand dollars per case. 12 3. The court may, upon application, enter an order waiving 13 payment of the court costs in indigent cases. However, if the 14 conservatorship subsequently becomes financially capable of 15 paying any waived costs, the conservator shall immediately pay 16 the costs. 17 Sec. 3. Section 633.673, Code 2014, is amended to read as 18 follows: 19 633.673 Court costs in guardianships. 20 1. The ward or the ward’s estate shall be charged with the 21 court costs of a ward’s guardianship, including the guardian’s 22 fees and the fees of the attorney for the guardian. 23 2. An assessment of court costs under this section shall not 24 exceed one thousand dollars per case. 25 3. The court may, upon application, enter an order waiving 26 payment of the court costs in indigent cases. However, if the 27 ward or ward’s estate becomes financially capable of paying any 28 waived costs, the costs shall be paid immediately. 29 EXPLANATION 30 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 31 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 32 This bill limits an assessment of court costs under Code 33 chapter 633 (probate code), including court costs awarded in 34 conservatorships and guardianships, to $1,000 per case. 35 -1- LSB 5148YC (5) 85 rh/rj 1/ 1