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Executor Compensation Laws in Iowa

In Iowa, the court sets reasonable fees for a personal representative, capped at 6% of the first $1,000, 4% of the next $4,000, and 2% of gross assets over $5,000.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Iowa at a glance

Compensation method
Reasonable fees set by the court, subject to a cap
The cap applies to ordinary services and is measured on gross inventory assets, excluding life insurance unless payable to the estate.
Statutory fee schedule
Cap: 6% first $1,000; 4% to $5,000; 2% above
6% of the first $1,000; 4% of the amount between $1,000 and $5,000; 2% of all sums over $5,000.
Percentage schedule in statute
Percentage cap

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Iowa

How is an executor paid in Iowa?

Compensation method in Iowa: Reasonable fees set by the court, subject to a cap. The cap applies to ordinary services and is measured on gross inventory assets, excluding life insurance unless payable to the estate.

What percentage can an executor charge in Iowa?

Statutory fee schedule in Iowa: Cap: 6% first $1,000; 4% to $5,000; 2% above. 6% of the first $1,000; 4% of the amount between $1,000 and $5,000; 2% of all sums over $5,000.

Does Iowa law set executor fees by a percentage schedule?

Percentage cap. Percentage schedule in statute in Iowa: percentage cap.

Where do the Iowa executor compensation laws come from?

The rules above come from Iowa Code 633.197. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Section 633.197 appears unchanged in the Iowa Code 2026; its last amendment was in 2013.

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.