Officials: Connecticut is most expensive place to die in US

By DAVE COLLINS

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Court officials say Connecticut is now the most expensive place to die in the U.S. - at least for the wealthy - because of hefty new fees for settling estates.

Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Democrat-controlled legislature signed off on a plan effective July 1 that eliminated a $12,500 cap on probate court fees, cut all state government funding to probate courts and doubled the fee on estates worth more than $2 million to 0.5 percent of the value.

Probate officials surveyed all 50 states and say Connecticut has the highest probate fees in the country. They're warning that without a cap, some bills could top $1 million and many will be more than $100,000.

Critics say the fees are unfair and may prompt wealthy people to move.