What does an executor do in New Jersey?

An executor in New Jersey is responsible for filing the will with the probate court, inventorying assets, notifying creditors, paying debts and taxes, and distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries. The process typically takes 6-9 months for simple estates and 9-12 months on average (N.J.S.A. 3B:18-14 (corpus commissions: 5%/$200K, 3.5%/$1M, 2% over $1M), 3B:18-13 (income commissions: 6%), 3B:18-6 (counsel fee for attorney-fiduciary; no statutory attorney fee schedule), R. 4:42-9(a)(3) / 4:42-9(b) (counsel fee allowance out of the estate in a probate action, supported by an affidavit of services addressing the RPC 1.5(a) factors), 3B:10-3 (spouse/CUP/DP small estate $50K), 3B:10-4 (heir small estate $20K), 3B:22-4 (creditor claims 9 months from death), 3B:15-1 (bond — administrators required; testamentary executors generally exempt), 3B:3-17 / 3B:3-19 + 2B:14-1 (Surrogate admits will and grants Letters as Judge of the Surrogate's Court — no informal/registrar probate), 3B:14-23 / 3B:16-2 / 3B:17-2 (unsupervised administration after appointment), 22A:2-30 (filing fees $100 with letters/$50 without), R. 4:80-6 (beneficiary mailing notice within 60 days; publication only for unlocatable persons), R. 4:80-8 (creditor notice rule deleted July 27, 2006, eff. 9/1/2006). Statutes verified 2026-07-14 against lis.njleg.state.nj.us (current through P.L.2025, c.346); court rules verified 2026-07-14 against njcourts.gov.). The 9-month creditor claim period sets a minimum timeline.

How do executor fees compare to attorney fees in New Jersey?

Executor fees and attorney fees are separate costs in New Jersey probate. Attorney fees are based on reasonable compensation (R. 4:42-9(a)(3) (court may allow a counsel fee out of the estate in a probate action) and R. 4:42-9(b) (fee must be supported by an affidavit of services addressing the RPC 1.5(a) reasonableness factors; no statutory percentage); N.J.S.A. 3B:18-6 (attorney also serving as fiduciary)). Executor compensation is calculated separately from attorney fees. Both fees are paid from the estate before distribution to beneficiaries.

What is the New Jersey statutory executor fee schedule?

The New Jersey statutory schedule for executor compensation is: 5% on the first $200K, 3.5% on the next $800K, 2% on amounts above $1M (N.J.S.A. 3B:18-14). The fee applies to the gross value of the probate estate. Extraordinary services may warrant additional compensation as approved by the court.

How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in New Jersey?

Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. Fees vary by state law.

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State

Estate Value

Total value of estate assets before debts. Executor fees are calculated on gross value.

Calculate executor compensation

Select your state and enter the estate value to see what an executor can charge.

Examples:

Executor fees (also called personal representative compensation) are calculated on gross estate value. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Executors may waive their fee. Family members serving as executor often do so without compensation. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance specific to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

New Jersey sets executor compensation by statute. The fee schedule is based on the gross value of the estate. Executors and beneficiaries may agree to a different amount, but the statutory schedule provides the default.

Yes. Executors in New Jersey can waive their fee entirely or accept a reduced amount. Family members serving as executor often waive compensation, particularly when they are also beneficiaries of the estate. Waiving the fee reduces the overall cost of probate and increases the amount available for distribution to beneficiaries.

New Jersey requires executors to post a surety bond. The bond requirement can be waived in the will or by court order. The typical annual bond premium is approximately 0.5% of the estate value. The bond protects beneficiaries against executor misconduct or mismanagement.

An executor in New Jersey is responsible for filing the will with the probate court, inventorying assets, notifying creditors, paying debts and taxes, and distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries. The process typically takes 6-9 months for simple estates and 9-12 months on average. The 9-month creditor claim period sets a minimum timeline. The New Jersey estate settlement plan outlines each step.

Executor fees and attorney fees are separate costs in New Jersey probate. Attorney fees are based on reasonable compensation. Executor compensation is calculated separately from attorney fees. Both fees are paid from the estate before distribution to beneficiaries. To estimate the attorney fee, use the New Jersey probate attorney fee calculator.

Total probate costs in New Jersey include executor fees, attorney fees, court filing fees, publication costs, and potentially bond premiums. Executor compensation is one component of the overall expense. On a $500,000 estate, the total runs about $38,385 — roughly 8% of estate value — depending on complexity. Use the New Jersey probate calculator for a complete cost estimate.

The New Jersey statutory schedule for executor compensation is: 5% on the first $200K, 3.5% on the next $800K, 2% on amounts above $1M. The fee applies to the gross value of the probate estate. Extraordinary services may warrant additional compensation as approved by the court.

Executor Fees in New Jersey

Executor fees in New Jersey follow a statutory schedule — typically to of the estate value. This gives families predictability when estimating probate costs. The probate calculator includes executor fees in its total cost estimate.

New Jersey bond requirement: Yes. The bond is waivable (Yes), often through a provision in the will. The typical bond premium is 0.5% of estate value annually. Bond costs are an additional probate expense beyond executor compensation.

Beyond executor compensation, New Jersey probate involves attorney fees (reasonable compensation), court filing fees, and publication costs. The executor is responsible for managing these expenses. See the estate settlement plan for a step-by-step guide to the New Jersey probate process.

Simple estates in New Jersey typically close in 6 months to 9 months. Executor compensation is usually paid at the close of the estate, though interim fees may be requested for longer administrations.