HB388 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Mobile Co., probate court, electronic filing and fees for electronic viewing and copies, distrib., probate court may require estimated court costs

Summary

HB388 would allow Mobile County's Probate Court to accept electronic filings like the Circuit Court, charge fees for online access and printing, and require advance estimated costs in some cases.

What This Bill Does

The bill lets the Probate Court of Mobile County accept electronic filings of judicial pleadings under the same rules as the Circuit Court and subject to Alabama’s rules and Supreme Court orders. It authorizes the judge of probate to charge reasonable fees for access to and printing of pleadings via the Internet or other electronic means, with fees not exceeding those charged by the Circuit Court. Fees collected are to be kept in the probate court's special recording fee account and used as allowed by existing law (Act 98-646). It also allows the judge to require payment of estimated court costs in advance at the time of filing. The act takes effect immediately after the governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Residents and businesses filing probate matters in Mobile County: may file electronically and may be required to pay estimated costs upfront at filing.
• People who view or print probate court pleadings online: may be charged reasonable fees for access and printing, up to the amounts charged by the Circuit Court.

Key Provisions

• Allows the Probate Court to accept electronic filings for judicial pleadings under the same rules as the Circuit Court and subject to applicable Supreme Court orders.
• Authorizes the judge of probate to collect reasonable fees for online access to and printing of judicial pleadings, limited to the Circuit Court's fee levels.
• Requires that fees collected be placed in the Probate Court's special recording fee account and disbursed according to Act 98-646.
• Gives the judge authority to require advance payment of estimated court costs at the time of filing.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Mobile County