Vermont Executor Fees Calculator

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

Vermont has no statutory compensation formula to apply, so this page presents the rule rather than a computed fee. Compensation is the necessary expenses plus the reasonable fees for services that the Probate Division of the Superior Court allows under 14 V.S.A. § 1065, and a compensation clause in the will is full satisfaction unless the executor files a written renunciation. No dollar figure here is a court quote, and the 32 V.S.A. § 1434 entry fee, attorney fees, any 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 Vermont?

There is no set amount and no statutory schedule. 14 V.S.A. § 1065 allows an executor or administrator necessary expenses in the care, management and settlement of the estate and reasonable fees for services, and the Probate Division for the county where the decedent lived decides what is reasonable on the facts of the estate. No V.S.A. section sets a percentage commission for a Vermont fiduciary, so any share-of-the-estate figure quoted for Vermont comes from another state.

Does a will control the executor fee in Vermont?

It does, and this is the Vermont rule most worth knowing before accepting the job. 14 V.S.A. § 1065 provides that when the deceased makes some other provision for compensation to the executor by will, that provision is FULL SATISFACTION for the services. The escape is written into the same sentence: the executor may file a written instrument in the Probate Division of the Superior Court renouncing all claim to the compensation provided by the will, after which the reasonableness standard applies again, and the court may also order otherwise. Accepting silently locks in the number the will chose.

Is the person in charge called an executor or a personal representative in Vermont?

Vermont says executor or administrator. The executor is the person named in the will once appointed, and the administrator is appointed where the will names no executor or the decedent died intestate (14 V.S.A. § 903). Personal representative is not a Vermont statutory term: Vermont never adopted the Uniform Probate Code, and Title 14 and the Judiciary both use executor or administrator throughout. A form asking for a personal representative usually comes from another state.

When is the fee decided in Vermont?

With the paperwork that closes the estate. On a full administration the fiduciary renders an account within one year of receiving letters and annually until the estate is wholly settled (14 V.S.A. § 1055), and the fee is allowed with it. A small estate under 14 V.S.A. § 1903 closes on a sworn statement of the payments made without a further accounting, and an estate that obtained a waiver of administration under § 1852 files no account at all, closing on an affidavit of administration instead. In every version the compensation remains a court-allowed item rather than a self-help withdrawal.

Can beneficiaries challenge an executor fee in Vermont?

Yes, in the Probate Division rather than by refusing to pay. V.R.P.P. Rule 54(a)(10), as amended effective January 1, 2026, lists among appealable probate orders those that allow or disallow an account, fees, or administration expenses in an estate, so the allowance decision is reviewable and either side can appeal it. An executor who takes a fee the court later disallows has to return it.

Is executor compensation taxable in Vermont?

A fee for serving is taxable income to the fiduciary, while an inheritance is not. That difference decides whether taking the fee actually leaves a family member better off, since the same money often reaches them either way. Review the income-tax and estate-accounting effects before taking or waiving a fee.

Can a Vermont executor waive the fee?

Yes, and a family member who is also the sole beneficiary commonly does, because the money arrives as an inheritance instead. Document the choice, since it changes the account or the closing statement the court reviews, the federal tax picture, and what the other beneficiaries expect.

Are attorney fees separate from the executor fee in Vermont?

Yes. They are two charges, and Vermont sets no statutory schedule for either one. An attorney fee is agreed between the client and the lawyer, hourly, flat or otherwise, and where it is charged to the ESTATE it becomes an administration expense the Probate Division allows or disallows under the same V.R.P.P. Rule 54(a)(10) that covers fiduciary fees. Ask for a written fee agreement before the work starts, 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 Vermont can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.

Vermont Executor Compensation Calculator

Does this estate need probate at all?

Ordinary Fee Rule

Extraordinary Services

Tax Consequences

Frequently Asked Questions

More Vermont Resources