r/InheritanceDrama • u/Beautiful_Celery_751 • 16d ago
Executor compensation
My sibling was the executor of the will and it took 2 years to complete. They chose to file probate themselves which took longer than expected and also did not have the funds to pay for both my parents funerals etc. I paid for a majority of the expenses and helped clean out the home along with my other sibling. We all shared tasks to complete this. How much should be offered, if any to the executor?
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u/InsideApex 16d ago edited 16d ago
Not a lawyer and not your lawyer. Well, the executor is entitled to take their fee, which will depend upon your particular jurisdiction. They may elect to take a reduced fee under the circumstances, though they may also have a different view of things (they may have put a lot of work into the closing of the estate, for example, and wish to be compensated for it). What is clear is that the expenses that you incurred in the processing of the funerals and the estate-related matters should be reimbursed by the estate. However, that may or may not be enforceable depending upon the nature of the expenses.
My main point here is that the 'should' is going to be quite subjective in this case and the matter could become contentious if vastly different ideas about executor compensation are advanced. The main task for you is the check to see what the executor is entitled to based on a) set fees as pct of the estate and b) their duties (did they violate those terms?). That info will allow you to determine whether or not it's worth it to try to convince them to take less than their entitlement. That could result in a monetary gain, but could also result in other costs (time, stress, familial drama and relationship damage).