Arizona Executor Fee Calculator, Free & Instant

Q: How much does an executor get paid in Phoenix (Maricopa County)?

The A.R.S. 14-3719 reasonable compensation standard applies statewide, including Maricopa County, and its probate court follows the same A.C.J.A. 3-303 fee guidelines as every other Arizona county. There's no county-specific rate; it comes down to actual hours at a reasonable rate.

How Arizona executor compensation actually works

Arizona is one of the few states with no statutory percentage at all — it pays for the reasonable value of the work, not a share of the estate.

1. "Reasonable compensation," not a formula

A.R.S. § 14-3719: "A personal representative is entitled to reasonable compensation for his services." No percentage, no fixed rate is written into the statute — the amount is tied to the actual work performed, typically billed hourly and itemized to the nearest tenth of an hour.

2. The court's fee guidelines still apply

Rule 33, Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure, and A.C.J.A. § 3-303: when a court does review compensation, it must weigh a long list of statewide factors — the usual market rate in the professional community, the fiduciary's skill and experience, the difficulty and urgency of the work, the results achieved, and more. There's no dollar figure written into these guidelines; they set the criteria, not the price.

3. No automatic court review

Unless the court orders otherwise or an interested party objects, the personal representative isn't required to get court approval before taking compensation. That makes careful, itemized time records essential — they're the personal representative's defense if compensation is ever questioned.

4. The will can set its own amount — with a narrow window to opt out

§ 14-3719: if the will specifies a compensation amount and there's no separate contract with the decedent about pay, the personal representative can renounce that provision before qualifying (before formally accepting the appointment) and be entitled to reasonable compensation under the statute instead. Renouncing after qualifying isn't an option for switching away from the will's amount — the choice has to be made upfront.

Component	Arizona figure	Source
Statutory formula	None — "reasonable compensation" only	A.R.S. § 14-3719
Typical family-fiduciary hourly range (practice, not statute)	~$25-50/hr	Secondary sources; court applies A.C.J.A. § 3-303 factors, not a fixed number
Court approval required?	No, unless ordered or objected to	Rule 33, Ariz. R. Prob. P.
Will sets its own amount	Controls, unless renounced before qualifying	A.R.S. § 14-3719

Arizona executor fee — frequently asked questions

How much does an executor get paid in Phoenix (Maricopa County)?

The A.R.S. § 14-3719 "reasonable compensation" standard applies statewide, including Maricopa County, and its probate court follows the same A.C.J.A. § 3-303 fee guidelines as every other Arizona county. There's no county-specific rate; it comes down to actual hours at a reasonable rate.

Does Arizona use a percentage of the estate?

No. Compensation is tied to the reasonable value of the work performed — typically hours × a reasonable hourly rate — not a percentage of the estate's value.

Does the Arizona probate court have to approve the fee?

Not automatically. Under Rule 33, court approval isn't required unless the court orders it or an interested party objects — but keeping itemized time records is still essential.

What if the will sets a specific dollar amount?

That amount controls, unless the personal representative renounces the will's provision before qualifying (before formally accepting the appointment) and elects reasonable compensation under the statute instead.

Is the Arizona executor fee taxable?

Yes — compensation is taxable income under federal law regardless of state. See our guide to how it's taxed, and when to waive it for the IRS rules on self-employment tax and reporting.

Can an Arizona personal representative waive their fee?

Yes — by filing a written renunciation with the court, at any time, for all or part of the compensation. See our guide to renouncing the fee for the two different renunciation paths Arizona law provides.

How is the fee split between Arizona co-personal representatives?

It isn't split from one pool the way it is in percentage-based states — each co-personal representative is separately entitled to reasonable compensation for their own actual hours. See our guide to Arizona co-personal representative compensation.

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Figures are based on Arizona statute (A.R.S. § 14-3719) and court rules (Rule 33, Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure; A.C.J.A. § 3-303). Arizona has no statutory percentage or fixed hourly rate — the $25-50/hr range shown is a commonly cited practical range for non-professional fiduciaries, not a number set by law, and actual reasonable compensation depends on the court's weighing of the statewide fee guideline factors. A will's own compensation terms control unless renounced before the personal representative qualifies. Confirm current figures with the probate court or a licensed Arizona attorney before acting.