How Much Does an Executor Get Paid?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. Fees vary by state law.
An executor fee (also called personal representative compensation) is payment for the work of administering a deceased person's estate. This includes gathering assets, paying debts, filing taxes, and distributing property to beneficiaries. The amount varies by state law.
Executor fees are calculated differently depending on the state. Some states have "statutory" fees set by law as a percentage of the estate value. Other states use "reasonable compensation" which is negotiated and subject to court approval if challenged. Our calculator uses current rates for all 50 states.
Not always. In some states (like California), executor and attorney fees follow the same statutory schedule. In other states, they are calculated differently. Executor fees compensate the personal representative for their work, while attorney fees pay for legal services. Use our Probate Cost Calculator to see the full cost breakdown including attorney fees.
Yes, executors can waive compensation entirely or accept a reduced amount. This is common when the executor is a family member who is also a beneficiary. Since executor fees are taxable income but inheritances generally are not, waiving the fee may be advantageous.
Trustees administering a revocable living trust typically charge less than probate executors — family trustees often serve without compensation since there is no court process to manage. On a $500,000 estate, an executor's statutory percentage can exceed $20,000 while a family trustee might charge nothing. A revocable trust from SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes to set up online.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Estate Inventory
Prepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
Can I Self-File Probate?
Whether your state lets you open probate yourself, and what it costs with a lawyer and without one.
How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?
See the court, petition, bond, and documents needed to be appointed and receive your Letters.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
Find creditor claim deadlines, notice requirements, and payment priority order for your state.
What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
See the order your state pays an insolvent estate's debts and which claims go unpaid.
How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate?
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
