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Alaska Executor Compensation Calculator

Alaska is a reasonable-fee state rather than a percentage-commission state: Alaska R.

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What the Calculator Uses in AlaskaThe method behind the estimate, and what it leaves out

Alaska has no percentage formula to apply, so this page presents the rule rather than a computed fee. Alaska R. Prob. P. 7.1 says a personal representative's fee shall be reasonable and lists the factors the court may consider, including time and labor, how involved the estate is, the skill required and the personal liability involved. No dollar figure here is a court order, and the $250 court fee to open the estate, attorney fees, any bond premium, publication of a notice to creditors and recording charges are all separate.

The estimate is a starting point, not a guaranteed fee. Courts can still review the work performed, the estate documents, and whether the representative is seeking compensation for services beyond the ordinary baseline.

What affects the feeOrdinary rules, extraordinary services, and tax consequences

Ordinary Fee Rule

The estimate begins with the state-specific ordinary compensation method, not a one-size-fits-all national formula.

Extraordinary Services

Sales of real property, business management, litigation, tax work, and unusual court proceedings can justify additional compensation in some estates.

Tax Consequences

Executor compensation is usually treated differently from the inheritance itself, which is why many fiduciaries consider whether waiving the fee creates a better tax result.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an executor get paid in Alaska?
Whatever is reasonable for the work actually done, not a share of the estate. Alaska R. Prob. P. 7.1 says a personal representative's fee shall be reasonable, and no percentage schedule for personal representative fees appears in that rule or on any Alaska Court System page. So nothing here can be computed from an estate value, and any rate presented as the Alaska executor fee is local custom or a private agreement rather than the rule. Keep records of what was handled and how long it took, because those records are what show a fee is reasonable.
What can the court consider in deciding a reasonable fee in Alaska?
Probate Rule 7.1 lists the factors: the time and labor required, how involved the estate is, the skill and training required, the personal liability the personal representative is exposed to, time taken from the personal representative's profession, expenses and whether they were charged to the estate, agents retained and their fees, whether the personal representative also served in another paid capacity, whether one or more persons or corporate fiduciaries serve, and other equitable factors.
Are attorney fees separate from the executor fee in Alaska?
Yes. They are two different charges. Probate Rule 7.1 covers the personal representative's fee, and no Court System rule read for this page sets a percentage or schedule for probate attorney fees, so an attorney's fee is set by agreement. Rule 7.1 also lets the court consider agents the personal representative retained and their fees when deciding whether the personal representative's own fee is reasonable. Both are separate from the $250 court fee to open the estate (Alaska R. Admin. 9(b)(2)(A)).
Is executor compensation taxable in Alaska?
A fee for serving is taxable income to the person who takes it, while an inheritance is not. That difference often decides whether taking the fee actually leaves a family member better off, because the same money frequently reaches them either way. Review the income-tax and estate-accounting effects before taking the fee or putting a decision not to take it in writing.
When is the fee paid in a Alaska estate?
Out of estate assets as a cost of administration, before what is left is distributed. That ordering matters most in one Alaska procedure. A small estate can close by sworn statement under AS 13.16.690 and AS 13.16.695 when the estate, less liens and debts, does not exceed the homestead allowance, the family allowance, exempt property, costs of administration, reasonable funeral expenses and reasonable last-illness medical and hospital expenses, so the personal representative's fee sits on the side of the ledger that can qualify a small estate for distribution without notice to creditors.
Is the person in charge called an executor or a personal representative in Alaska?
Alaska uses personal representative, the term the Court System's forms and Probate Rule 7.1 use for both someone named in a will and someone appointed without one, and people still say executor. Whichever word the family uses, the same reasonable-fee rule applies. The estate is a Superior Court case filed in the judicial district where the person who died lived.
Official Sources and Further ReadingOfficial references used for this page

Information current as of May 31, 2026

Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in Alaska can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.

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