NJ Executor Guide
NJ Executor Fees & Commission
Yes — being an executor is paid work in New Jersey. Here's how the commission is calculated.
The commission on assets (corpus)
New Jersey's statute provides a general sliding-scale schedule on the value of the estate's assets for a single executor:
| Portion of the estate's assets | Commission |
|---|---|
| First $200,000 | 5% |
| Next $800,000 (i.e., $200,001–$1,000,000) | 3.5% |
| Above $1,000,000 | 2% |
So, very roughly, a $500,000 estate's corpus commission works out to around $20,500 under the standard schedule. The exact figure depends on what counts toward corpus in a given estate.
The commission on income
On top of the corpus commission, New Jersey allows a commission of 6% on income the estate receives during administration (for example, interest, dividends, or rent collected while the estate is open).
More than one executor
When an estate has two or more executors serving together, New Jersey allows an additional commission amount to be shared among them. How it's divided depends on the situation.
It's taxable — and the estate pays it
An executor's commission is generally treated as taxable income to the executor and reported on a personal return — so how and when to take it has tax consequences worth discussing with a CPA. The commission is paid out of the estate, typically toward the end of administration after debts, taxes, and the creditor-claim window are resolved.
Stay on every step (and every dollar)
The NJ Executor Compliance Kit walks the full process and keeps a clean, court-ready record — including a place to track expenses and your commission.
See the Compliance Kit → Free deadline calculator