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New Jersey Executor Compensation Calculator

New Jersey sets a statutory commission on corpus under N.J.S.A.

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

For New Jersey, this page applies the N.J.S.A. 3B:18-14 corpus commission brackets (5% of the first $200,000 of corpus received, 3.5% of the excess up to $1,000,000, and 2% above $1,000,000) to the corpus the fiduciary receives. It does not add the separate 6% income commission under N.J.S.A. 3B:18-13, the 1% per additional fiduciary, extraordinary commissions the court may allow under N.J.S.A. 3B:18-16, the different trustee and guardian schedule in N.J.S.A. 3B:18-24 through 3B:18-28, or attorney fees, which New Jersey does not set on a statutory schedule.

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 Jersey?
In New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 3B:18-14 sets the corpus commission at 5% of the first $200,000 of all corpus received by the fiduciary, 3.5% of the excess over $200,000 up to $1,000,000, and 2% of the excess over $1,000,000. On $200,000 of corpus that is $10,000; on $500,000 it is $20,500; on $1,000,000 it is $38,000; and on $2,000,000 it is $58,000. N.J.S.A. 3B:18-13 adds commissions of 6% on all income received, and income withheld for tax purposes counts as income received.
Does a New Jersey executor need court approval to take the commission?
No. The corpus commission under N.J.S.A. 3B:18-14 and the 6% income commission under N.J.S.A. 3B:18-13 are both takeable without a court allowance, so a New Jersey commission is a statutory computation rather than a request. The schedule is not a ceiling in the way some states set one. The court may allow MORE for unusual or extraordinary services on an intermediate or final settlement of accounts (N.J.S.A. 3B:18-16), and may reduce the commission only on the application of a beneficiary who is adversely affected and an affirmative showing that the services were materially deficient or that the actual pains, trouble, and risk were substantially less than an estate of comparable size generally requires.
What happens when there is more than one executor in New Jersey?
N.J.S.A. 3B:18-14 adds 1% of all corpus received for each additional fiduciary, and caps the result so that no one fiduciary is entitled to a greater commission than would be allowed if only one fiduciary were serving. The co-fiduciaries divide the total.
Can a New Jersey will change the executor's compensation?
Yes. Under N.J.S.A. 3B:18-3, compensation specified in the will is full payment for the services in lieu of the statutory commissions, unless the fiduciary files a written renunciation of that specific compensation with the surrogate or the clerk of the Superior Court. Renouncing the will provision restores the statutory commissions.
Is the attorney fee separate in New Jersey?
Yes, and New Jersey sets no statutory attorney-fee schedule for estates, so the estate attorney is paid an agreed or court-allowed reasonable fee, separate from the commissions. Where the fiduciary is a licensed New Jersey attorney who also performed professional services, the court allows a just counsel fee in addition to the commissions, and apportions it among fiduciaries who performed those services (N.J.S.A. 3B:18-6).
Can a New Jersey executor lose the commission?
Yes. Where a fiduciary is removed from office for any cause, the Superior Court may direct that the commissions be forfeited (N.J.S.A. 3B:18-5). A beneficiary may also apply to reduce corpus commissions under N.J.S.A. 3B:18-14 on a showing that the services were materially deficient.
Is executor compensation taxable in New Jersey?
Executor compensation is usually taxable income, separate from an inheritance. Review the income-tax and estate-accounting effects before taking or waiving a fee, especially when the personal representative is also a beneficiary.
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 Jersey can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.

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