Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 2.48 Public Administrator

Pursuant to Section 24000 of the Government Code, there is created the office of public administrator of the county of Imperial. Pursuant to Section 24011 of the Government Code, the public administrator shall be appointed by the board of supervisors and shall serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors.

(Prior code § 23955; Ord. No. 1524, § 1, 12-12-17)

A. The public administrator shall perform the duties established by the Probate Code and as otherwise required by law.

B. The office of the public administrator shall perform a variety of duties to properly and efficiently administer estates, including open probates as needed, close bank accounts, coordinate funeral arrangements, meet with coroner, prepare court documents and appear in court, conduct personal property auctions, sell real property and communicate with relatives and heirs.

C. The office of public administrator is authorized to make such reasonable charges for its services and collect such fees as may be allowed by the agencies disbursing the income or benefits, and by the board of supervisors of Imperial County.

D. In acting under the authority of this chapter, the office of public administrator may exercise appropriate professional judgment and discretion in accepting such cases, so as to remain within the capacity of the office to properly manage and administer such cases.

E. The public administrator shall act as and perform the duties of the public guardian, as set forth in Chapter 2.64.

(Prior code § 23956; Ord. No. 1524, § 2, 12-12-17)

The public administrator shall receive as compensation for his or her services, including those services as public guardian pursuant to Chapter 2.64, a monthly salary as established by the board of supervisors. Fees awarded by the court which are recoverable out of the decedent's estate shall be paid into the general fund of the county.

(Prior code § 23957; Ord. No. 1524, § 3, 12-12-17)

A. In addition to any other fees required by law to be collected by the public administrator, he or she shall collect the following fees pursuant to California Probate Code:

1. Four percent on first one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) of estate value;

2. Three percent on next one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00);

3. Two percent on next eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000.00);

4. One percent on next nine million dollars ($9,000,000.00);

5. One-half of one percent on next fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000.00);

6. For all above twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00), a reasonable amount to be determined by the court;

7. Minimum fees of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

B. Recovery of departmental costs:

1. Cost of long distance telephone calls;

2. Mileage at forty-five cents ($0.45) per mile;

3. Copier at twenty-five cents ($0.25) per copy;

4. Storage charges (per month):

a. Twenty dollars ($20.00) on quonset storage,

b. Fifteen dollars ($15.00) safe and office storages,

c. Ten dollars ($10.00) bike storage,

d. Fifteen dollars ($15.00) automobile storage,

e. Fifteen dollars ($15.00) trailer or motorhome storage;

5. Twenty percent (20%) of sale of personal property;

6. Cost of services for preparation and sale of real property:

a. One hundred dollars ($100.00) administrative fees, and

b. Six percent of the sale price.

C. Bond fee per Probate Code Section 7621(d): twenty-five dollars ($25.00) plus one-fourth of one percent of the amount of an estate greater than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).

(Ord. 1405 § 1, 2006)