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Executor Compensation Laws in Louisiana

In Louisiana, an executor receives the reasonable amount set in the will; if the will is silent, the executor receives 2.5% of the inventory value, which a court may increase if shown to be inadequate.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Louisiana at a glance

Compensation method
Amount in the will, otherwise statutory 2.5%
An administrator's pay can also be set by agreement with the surviving spouse and all competent heirs or legatees.
Statutory fee schedule
2.5% of the inventory amount
The court may increase this upon a proper showing that the usual commission is inadequate.
Percentage schedule in statute
Yes

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Louisiana

How is an executor paid in Louisiana?

Compensation method in Louisiana: Amount in the will, otherwise statutory 2.5%. An administrator's pay can also be set by agreement with the surviving spouse and all competent heirs or legatees.

What percentage can an executor charge in Louisiana?

Statutory fee schedule in Louisiana: 2.5% of the inventory amount. The court may increase this upon a proper showing that the usual commission is inadequate.

Does Louisiana law set executor fees by a percentage schedule?

Yes. Percentage schedule in statute in Louisiana: yes.

Where do the Louisiana executor compensation laws come from?

The rules above come from La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 3351. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

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.