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Executor Compensation Laws in Connecticut

In Connecticut, no statutory percentage schedule sets executor pay: under case law fiduciaries receive just and reasonable fees, and the Probate Court reviews them for reasonableness.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Connecticut at a glance

Compensation method
Reasonable compensation (case law and court rule)
Courts weigh factors such as estate size, responsibility, time and services required, and results; the Probate Court reviews fees for reasonableness.
Statutory fee schedule
None (no percentage in statute)
Percentage schedule in statute
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Connecticut

How is an executor paid in Connecticut?

Compensation method in Connecticut: Reasonable compensation (case law and court rule). Courts weigh factors such as estate size, responsibility, time and services required, and results; the Probate Court reviews fees for reasonableness.

What percentage can an executor charge in Connecticut?

Statutory fee schedule in Connecticut: None (no percentage in statute).

Does Connecticut law set executor fees by a percentage schedule?

No. Percentage schedule in statute in Connecticut: no.

Where do the Connecticut executor compensation laws come from?

The rules above come from Conn. Probate Court Rule 39.1 and Hayward v. Plant, 98 Conn. 374. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Probate Court Rule 39.1 lets the court approve a fee arrangement in advance, and fees not approved earlier are reviewed with the financial report or account.

What this means in practice

A will can usually address executor pay directly, for example by setting a flat fee, a percentage, or stating that the executor serves without pay. Where the will is silent, the state's default rule applies. An executor can also choose to waive compensation, which some family members do because fees are generally taxable income while inheritances generally are not.

Executor compensation is separate from reimbursement of expenses and from fees paid to the estate's attorney, accountant, or other professionals. Keeping a written log of hours, tasks, and costs helps support a fee request and answers questions from heirs or the court.

Heirs and beneficiaries who believe a fee is too high can usually object in the probate proceeding, and courts can reduce, deny, or increase compensation in some circumstances. Rules on timing, court approval, and extraordinary services differ, so the statute for the state where the estate is probated is the starting point.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.