'Death taxes by stealth': Allan government triples Victorian probate fees

Victorian shadow finance minister Jess Wilson has slammed the Allan government after it announced plans to push ahead with “death taxes by stealth”. The Allan government earlier this week revealed plans to massively increase Supreme Court probate fees, which families must pay in order to enact the will of a dead relative. The new system is set to come into effect from November 18. Estates valued at less than $250,000 will no longer need to pay a probate fee, saving some families the amount it costs to refill a small car with petrol. However, the probate rates for estates from $250,000 to $500,000 will increase a massive 650 per cent to $514. “This is a death tax by stealth and what we're seeing here is an Allen Labor government absolutely desperate for any money they can find to pay for their record debt,” Ms Wilson told Sky News host Steve Price. “Now, this is going to be a tax that hits Victorians at their most vulnerable time, at a time that they're dealing with the loss of a loved one.