Executor Compensation Laws in Utah
In Utah, a personal representative is entitled to reasonable compensation, and if an interested person objects, the court sets it based on the quality, quantity, and value of the services; there is no percentage fee schedule.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Utah at a glance
- Compensation method
- Reasonable compensation
- If no interested person objects to a petition, reasonable compensation is the amount sought in the petition.
- Statutory fee schedule
- None (no percentage in statute)
- Percentage schedule in statute
- No
The rules in Utah
How is an executor paid in Utah?
Compensation method in Utah: Reasonable compensation. If no interested person objects to a petition, reasonable compensation is the amount sought in the petition.
What percentage can an executor charge in Utah?
Statutory fee schedule in Utah: None (no percentage in statute).
Does Utah law set executor fees by a percentage schedule?
No. Percentage schedule in statute in Utah: no.
Where do the Utah executor compensation laws come from?
The rules above come from Utah Code 75-3-718. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.
Good to know
If the will sets compensation, the personal representative may renounce it before qualifying and take reasonable compensation instead.
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.
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