For wealthy, Connecticut is the most expensive place to die in the US due to new probate fees

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.