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Executor Compensation Laws in Maine

In Maine, a personal representative is entitled to reasonable compensation, with no statutory percentage, and may renounce a will's fee provision before qualifying.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maine at a glance

Compensation method
Reasonable compensation
If the will sets compensation and there is no contract with the decedent, the representative may renounce it before qualifying and take reasonable compensation.
Statutory fee schedule
None (no percentage in statute)
Percentage schedule in statute
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maine

How is an executor paid in Maine?

Compensation method in Maine: Reasonable compensation. If the will sets compensation and there is no contract with the decedent, the representative may renounce it before qualifying and take reasonable compensation.

What percentage can an executor charge in Maine?

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

Does Maine law set executor fees by a percentage schedule?

No. Percentage schedule in statute in Maine: no.

Where do the Maine executor compensation laws come from?

The rules above come from Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 18-C, 3-719. 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.