Skip to content
Oakclause

Executor Compensation Laws in Vermont

In Vermont, an executor or administrator receives reasonable fees for services plus necessary expenses, compensation set in the will is full payment unless renounced, and there is no percentage fee schedule.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Vermont at a glance

Compensation method
Reasonable fees
Compensation provided in the will is full satisfaction unless the executor files a written renunciation with the Probate Division or the court orders otherwise.
Statutory fee schedule
None (no percentage in statute)
Percentage schedule in statute
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Vermont

How is an executor paid in Vermont?

Compensation method in Vermont: Reasonable fees. Compensation provided in the will is full satisfaction unless the executor files a written renunciation with the Probate Division or the court orders otherwise.

What percentage can an executor charge in Vermont?

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

Does Vermont law set executor fees by a percentage schedule?

No. Percentage schedule in statute in Vermont: no.

Where do the Vermont executor compensation laws come from?

The rules above come from 14 V.S.A. 1065. 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.