Florida Executor Fee Calculator
Calculate statutory executor fees based on Florida probate law
Executor Fee Calculation
Florida Executor Fee Information
Statutory Fee Schedule
| Estate Value | Fee Rate |
|---|---|
| First $40,000 | 3% |
| Next $30,000 | 7.5% |
| Next $100,000 | 4.5% |
| Next $500,000 | 3% |
| Next $1,000,000 | 2.5% |
| Next $2,000,000 | 2% |
| Above $3,670,000 | 1.5% |
Executor Fee Calculation Results
Fee Calculation Details
Fee Breakdown by Tier
| Tier | Value Range | Rate | Fee Amount |
|---|
Fee Relative to Estate Value
Serving as an executor is a significant responsibility that can take 6-18 months of work managing estates through probate.
Florida law entitles executors to reasonable compensation, with statutory guidelines providing a clear fee structure based on estate value. Understanding these fees is essential whether you’re named as executor in a will, planning your own estate, or settling a loved one’s affairs.
Our Florida Executor Fee Calculator instantly determines statutory compensation based on Florida Statutes Section 733.617.
Calculate accurate Florida executor fees in seconds based on gross estate value and understand what compensation is reasonable under state law.
What This Calculator Provides:
- Statutory executor fee based on Florida’s tiered percentage system
- Total compensation for estates from small ($10,000) to large ($10 million+)
- Effective fee rate showing the overall percentage of the estate value
- Fee breakdown by tier for transparent calculation
- Comparison across different estate size categories
How to Use This Calculator
Step 1
- Enter the gross estate value in dollars.
- This is the total value of all assets before subtracting debts, mortgages, or final expenses. Include real estate at fair market value, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, personal property, and life insurance payable to the estate.
- Use appraisal values for real estate and date-of-death values for financial accounts.
Step 2
- Optionally enter the decedent’s name for record-keeping purposes.
- This helps when calculating fees for multiple estates or saving calculations for documentation.
- The calculator works without names entered, but tracking information helps organize estate settlement records.
Step 3
- Input the executor’s name if desired.
- This personalizes results and helps when comparing compensation for co-executors or documenting fee agreements with beneficiaries.
Step 4
- Select the executor’s relationship to the decedent from the dropdown.
- While Florida’s statutory fees don’t legally vary by relationship, understanding whether the executor is a spouse, child, professional, or friend provides context for whether to waive fees or claim full compensation.
Step 5
- Review the calculated statutory fee, effective rate, and fee breakdown by tier.
- Compare this to the time and effort required for the specific estate, complex estates with business interests or disputes may justify additional extraordinary fees beyond statutory amounts.
Pro Tip: Executors can waive fees, accept less than statutory amounts, or negotiate different compensation if beneficiaries agree in writing. Many family executors waive fees to maximize inheritance for beneficiaries, while professional executors typically claim full statutory compensation plus extraordinary fees for complex work.
Common Mistake: Don’t calculate fees on the net estate after debts. Florida statute bases executor compensation on gross estate value before subtracting mortgages, credit card debts, funeral expenses, or other liabilities. Using net estate value significantly underestimates legitimate compensation.
Understanding Your Fee Calculation Results
Small Estate ($0-$100,000)
- Executor fees range from $300-$4,050 on estates up to $100,000.
- These estates typically require 50-150 hours of work over 6-12 months, including asset inventory, creditor notifications, tax filings, and distributions.
- At 100 hours, a $4,050 fee equals approximately $40/hour—reasonable compensation for the responsibility and legal liability executors assume.
Medium Estate ($100,000-$500,000)
- Statutory fees range from $4,050-$16,050 on these estates.
- Medium estates often involve real estate sales, multiple investment accounts, and complex creditor claims requiring 150-300 hours of executor work.
- Professional executors typically claim full statutory fees, while family members may waive or reduce fees depending on relationships with beneficiaries.
Large Estate ($500,000-$3 million)
- Fees range from $16,050-$71,550 for estates in this range.
- Large estates frequently include business interests, multiple properties, significant investments, and potential estate tax returns requiring 300-500+ hours of work.
- These estates often justify hiring attorneys and accountants, with executor fees compensating for coordination, decision-making, and fiduciary responsibility.
Very Large Estate ($3 million+)
- Statutory fees exceed $71,550, with percentages decreasing to 1.5% on amounts over $3.67 million.
- A $10 million estate generates approximately $171,550 in statutory fees.
- These estates almost always involve professional executors or institutional trustees, given complexity, duration (often 18-36 months), and sophisticated asset management required.
Effective Fee Rate
This shows executor compensation as a percentage of total estate value. Small estates have higher effective rates (3%) due to the base workload regardless of size, while large estates show lower effective rates (1.5-2%) reflecting economies of scale.
Both are reasonable given the work involved at different estate values.
Florida Executor Fee Law and Guidelines
Statutory Fee Structure (Florida Statutes 733.617)
Florida law establishes presumptively reasonable executor compensation through tiered percentages under §733.617 (2025):
- Typically, 3% on the first $1 million,
- 2.5% on the next $4 million,
- 2% on the next $5 million, and
- 1.5% on amounts over $10 million (exact tiers may vary slightly by interpretation, but 3% on the first $1M is standard).
- For a $100,000 estate, statutory fees total approximately $3,000.
- For a $10 million estate, approximately $235,000-$240,000.
These tiers apply automatically unless the will specifies different compensation or parties agree otherwise.
Source: Fla. Stat. 733.617 – Compensation of personal representative
Extraordinary Fees for Additional Services
Beyond statutory compensation, executors may claim extraordinary fees for services outside normal administration duties.
These include litigation to defend the estate, tax controversy proceedings, operating estate businesses, real estate sales requiring unusual efforts, and resolving complex title issues.
Courts must approve extraordinary fees based on time spent, complexity, results achieved, and customary charges for similar services.
When Executors Can Exceed Statutory Fees
Courts may award fees exceeding statutory amounts if estate administration requires extraordinary skill, involves unusual complexity, demands extensive time beyond normal duties, or achieves exceptional results benefiting beneficiaries.
Professional executors handling multi-million dollar estates with business operations, international assets, or major litigation frequently justify fees above statutory minimums.
Waiving or Reducing Executor Fees
Executors can waive compensation entirely or accept reduced fees through a written agreement with beneficiaries.
Family executors often waive fees to maximize distributions to children or spouses.
However, executors assuming significant legal liability and time commitments shouldn’t feel obligated to serve without compensation. Partial fee waivers (accepting 50% of statutory fees) balance family relationships with fair compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Florida executor fees always this percentage-based calculation?
These statutory percentages are “presumptively reasonable” under Florida law, meaning courts accept them without question.
However, wills can specify different compensation (flat fees, hourly rates, or different percentages), and executors can negotiate alternative arrangements with beneficiaries.
Without specific will provisions or agreements, statutory percentages apply as the default compensation structure.
Do executors pay taxes on their fees?
Yes, executor fees are taxable income reported on Form 1099-MISC and included on the executor’s personal income tax return. This differs from inheritances, which aren’t taxable to beneficiaries.
Can beneficiaries challenge executor fees as too high?
Beneficiaries can object to executor fees during the accounting process if they believe compensation is excessive. However, Florida’s statutory fees are presumed reasonable, making successful challenges difficult without proving executor misconduct, self-dealing, or unnecessary delays that inflate fees.
What if the estate can’t afford to pay executor fees?
Insolvent estates where debts exceed assets still owe executor fees, but executors join other creditors in receiving partial payment based on available funds. Florida law prioritizes certain debts; executors typically rank as Class 3 claims, behind funeral expenses and administrative costs, but ahead of most other creditors.
Should I waive executor fees if I’m also a beneficiary?
Waiving fees increases your inheritance slightly (avoiding income tax) and may reduce family conflict if other beneficiaries resent fees reduction of their shares. However, if you’re investing 200+ hours over 18 months, claiming reasonable compensation is entirely justified regardless of beneficiary status.
Tool Maintained By: Florida School Age Calculator Team
This calculator provides estimates based on Florida Statutes Section 733.617 statutory fee guidelines. Actual executor compensation depends on court approval, will provisions, beneficiary agreements, and specific estate circumstances. This tool is for estimation purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult with a Florida probate attorney for guidance on specific estates, fee arrangements, and your legal rights and obligations as an executor.