Quick answer: No, California co-executors don't each collect the full statutory fee. Cal. Prob. Code § 10805 is direct about it: "If there are two or more personal representatives, the personal representative's compensation shall be apportioned among the personal representatives by the court according to the services actually rendered by each personal representative or as agreed to by the personal representatives." One statutory fee, split — either by the court, based on actual work, or by the co-executors' own agreement. Estimate the total fee first with the California executor fee calculator.
Two paths to a division
The underlying fee doesn't grow with more co-executors
Because § 10805 apportions a single fee computed under the § 10800 tiered schedule, adding a second or third co-executor doesn't create additional statutory compensation for the estate to pay out — it changes how the one fee is divided among the people serving, not the total amount available.
The attorney's fee stands apart
Cal. Prob. Code § 10810's attorney compensation is governed independently of § 10805. Multiple personal representatives don't change the estate's attorney's own separate statutory fee, and § 10804's attorney-executor restriction (covered in the main guide) still applies individually to any co-executor who happens to also be the estate's attorney.
Worked example
Two siblings serve as co-personal representatives of a California estate valued at $500,000, generating a $13,000 statutory fee under § 10800.
| Approach | Sibling A | Sibling B | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court apportions by services rendered (A did most of the work) | $9,750 | $3,250 | $13,000 |
| Co-executors agree to split evenly | $6,500 | $6,500 | $13,000 |
The total stays at $13,000 in both approaches under § 10805 — only the division changes, whether set by the court or by the co-executors themselves.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.