LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 4911

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JANUARY 16, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Increases county surrogate fees; adds new categories of fees.

Type of Impact:

Annual county revenue increase.

Agencies Affected:

Counties.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Annual Fiscal Impact

 

 

County Revenue Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the bill will result in an increase in revenue to counties associated with the increase of various fees and addition of new fee categories collected by county surrogates.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      The bill amends current law to increase various county surrogate fees.  The bill also adds new categories of fees, including: Common Charges that Apply Uniformly; Assignment for the Benefit of Customers; Superior Court Proceedings; and General Surrogate and Superior Court Charges. 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that the bill will result in an increase in revenue to counties associated with the increase of various fees collected by county surrogates as well as new categories of fees to be collected by county surrogates, including: Common Charges that Apply Uniformly; Assignment for the Benefit of Customers; Superior Court Proceedings; and General Surrogate and Superior Court Charges. 

      Because the OLS is unable to estimate the number and specific type of affected documents filed with a county surrogate on an annual basis, the OLS is also unable to estimate the total revenue increase for each county in the State.  The OLS notes, however, that the additional fees included in the four new categories of fees range from a universal $5 per page fee to $300 for a complaint for adoption of a minor or adult or other first papers for any other Family Part relief.  The OLS also notes that a majority of the increases of existing fees in the bill are between $50 and $100 per document. 

 

Section:

Local Government

Analyst:

Abigail Stoyer

Senior Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).