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New Hampshire Executor Compensation Calculator

New Hampshire publishes no fee table and no percentage commission anywhere in the RSA.

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

New Hampshire has no statutory compensation formula to apply, so this page presents the rule rather than a computed fee. Compensation is whatever the Circuit Court, Probate Division approves as reasonable for the work, responsibility and risk under Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88. No dollar figure here is a court quote, and the Rule 169 entry fee, attorney fees, the surety bond premium and appraisal costs are all separate charges.

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 New Hampshire?
There is no set amount and no statutory schedule. Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 makes fees and expenses of fiduciaries and attorneys subject to the approval of the court and requires them to be reasonable for the work, responsibility and risk. The rule lists what may be weighed in judging that: the time and labor required, the size of the estate, the requisite skill, the customary fee, any fee agreement, the results obtained, time limitations, and the length of the professional relationship. The Circuit Court, Probate Division for the county where the deceased person last lived decides what is reasonable on those facts.
Is the person in charge called an executor or an administrator in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire says administrator. RSA 553:1 defines the word to include every person to whom administration of an estate is granted, and executor is reserved for the person named in a will. New Hampshire is not a Uniform Probate Code state, so personal representative is not the New Hampshire term and a form that asks for one is usually from another state.
Does RSA 554:23 set the administrator fee in New Hampshire?
No, and this is a citation worth checking before it is repeated. RSA 554:23 carries the heading "Amount Allowed", which reads like a compensation section, but it concerns the sum a fiduciary may pay for the perpetual care of a burial lot under RSA 554:22. No RSA section fixes a commission for an administrator. The rule that governs the fee is Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88.
When is the fee decided in New Hampshire?
At the end, with the paperwork that closes the estate. On a full administration the administrator files an account within one year of appointment and annually after that under RSA 554:26-a, and the fee is approved with it. On an estate settled by waiver of administration under RSA 553:32 there is no account at all, so the fee is agreed among the people who inherit and the estate closes on an affidavit of administration filed between 6 and 12 months after appointment. On a summary administration under RSA 553:33 the final account is eliminated as well. In every version the court can still review what was charged under Rule 88.
Is executor compensation taxable in New Hampshire?
A fee for serving is taxable income to the fiduciary, and an inheritance is not. New Hampshire itself levies no personal income tax and no inheritance tax, so this is a federal question rather than a state one, but it still decides whether taking the fee leaves the fiduciary better off. Review the income-tax and estate-accounting effects before taking or waiving a fee.
Can a New Hampshire administrator waive the fee?
Yes, and a family member who is also a beneficiary often does. Taking an inheritance rather than a fee usually means taking the same money without the income tax. Document the choice, because it affects the account the court reviews, the federal tax picture, and what the other beneficiaries expect.
Are attorney fees separate from the administrator fee in New Hampshire?
Yes, and the same rule governs both. Circuit Court Probate Division Rule 88 is headed "FEES AND EXPENSES - Fiduciary and Attorney" and applies one reasonableness standard to each, so an attorney fee and an administrator fee are two charges reviewed on the same footing. New Hampshire sets no statutory attorney-fee schedule for probate, so the fee is by agreement, whether hourly, flat or otherwise. Ask any attorney you interview for a written fee agreement, and expect the court to be able to look at what was ultimately charged.
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 New Hampshire can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.

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