The simple answer is that, whether through specific provisions of the will or applicable state law, an executor is generally entitled to receive compensation. The amount varies depending on the situation, but the executor always receives payment of the testamentary inheritance. Are executors paid? Executors receive paid commissions that are calculated as a percentage of the value of the testamentary inheritance, minus specific legacies, legacies, or devices (i.e. Inheritance is defined as all assets held in the name of the deceased.
It does not include co-owned real estate (such as a house that passes into the hands of a spouse), or any bank account or other property jointly maintained with another person, such as a spouse or child. Such amounts do not go through the will. Bank accounts held in another person's trust, pension plans, life insurance, IRAs, and any other account or policy that is paid directly to a beneficiary and not to the estate itself also do not go through the will. Most executors are entitled to pay for their work, either under the terms of the will or under state law.
How much is an executor paid? Usually, a will names a flat rate or states that the executor can claim reasonable compensation. If a will does not mention compensation, state law generally gives executors the right to reasonable relief, and can provide a formula for arriving at executor's fees. An executor is the person appointed to administer someone's Last Will and Will. An executor of a New York estate is not expected to administer a deceased's estate free of charge.
Executors receive a fixed commission, paid out of the estate. Fees are calculated as a percentage of the value of the “testamentary succession”, minus specific legacies, legacies, and inventions. The testamentary estate is all assets held in the exclusive name of the deceased at the time of death. Therefore, inheritance assets do not include accounts held in common or immovable property with survivor rights.
Similarly, any account that names a payee is paid directly to the payee and not to the estate. This generally means that pension plans, life insurance, death transfer accounts, and IRAs are not part of the estate. In particular, a Last Will and a Will may provide a different fee structure, replacing statute. Executors also have the option to waive compensation.
There is no automatic right to prepayment. Executors are generally paid at the conclusion of the estate, with our firm insistence that executors receive an exemption from beneficiaries. However, New York SCPA 2310 and 2311 do authorize the executor to ask the court for advance payment, and they can receive advance payment if the judge issues an order allowing them to do so. The executor has the right to be compensated for his work in relation to the inheritance.
Even with simple successions, the executor has a fair amount of work to do to close the estate and usually justifies a fee. To determine executor compensation, you should consult your state's regulations. The above paragraphs with respect to the succession of the will, the collection of assets, the payment of creditors and the payment of taxes apply in the case where the spouse is appointed as the sole executor and is also the sole beneficiary. The bond secures the amount of the value of the estate, thus protecting the beneficiaries from any possibility of the executor attempting to steal the estate's assets.
Executors' fees in Georgia are governed by a wide range of laws, including taking into account executor's fees established by a will or other agreement. Unless the will specifically provides otherwise, the executor must file a bond if he is not a resident of the State of New York, is not responsible enough, or if he is obligated to own, manage, or invest real or personal property for the benefit of another person. The estate assets must be managed in a prudent and conservative manner, and the executor can be held accountable to the beneficiaries and the Court for any gross negligence, waste or mismanagement. A decedent is someone who has died, and the decedent's estate is that person's entire property at the time of their death.
The executor is personally responsible for paying all of the decedent's invoices and taxes to the extent of the estate's assets. However, if the estate is in unforeseen debts and assets that cannot be recovered have already been distributed, the executor may be personally responsible for the payment of those debts. With the hourly rate structure, the executor keeps a record of his time spent managing the estate and bills the time at a reasonable hourly rate. In states that set specific rates of compensation for executors by law, you must use these laws to calculate executor's fees.
As you can see, it's now always easy to determine what assets are included in the calculation, so the executor is advised to consult with a New York estate attorney before accepting your payment. The executor must locate all assets, even those that are not testamentary assets, such as property or accounts held in common or life insurance policies payable directly to beneficiaries since the executor is responsible for including information about such assets in estate tax returns. On the other hand, the IRS and the New York Department of Revenue give property executors the option of not accepting payment and not paying income tax.
