Quick answer: No, co-executors don't each get a full commission in North Carolina. The up-to-5%/5% ceiling in N.C.G.S. § 28A-23-3 applies to the estate as a whole, not per person — when more than one personal representative serves at the same time, the Clerk of Superior Court divides the single approved commission among them based on the work each one actually did. Estimate the total pool first with the North Carolina executor fee calculator, then use this page to think through how it would be divided.
One ceiling, divided by work done
This differs from some other states
North Carolina's "one pool, divided by contribution" approach is the most common nationally, but it isn't universal. New York uses a size-based formula (SCPA § 2307) where two co-executors on a mid-sized estate can each collect a full commission rather than splitting one. Florida gives each of exactly two co-personal-representatives a full commission on estates above $100,000. North Carolina has no such multiplier — the total available never exceeds what a single personal representative could have been approved for.
The clerk still weighs the same factors
Because North Carolina's commission was never automatic to begin with — it's a discretionary ceiling — adding a second personal representative doesn't change the analysis the clerk runs. It just means the clerk applies it once per co-executor's actual contribution, rather than once for a single person. A co-executor who did little beyond signing documents shouldn't expect an equal share of whatever the clerk approves.
Worked example
Two siblings serve as co-executors of a North Carolina estate with $300,000 in receipts and $300,000 in lawful expenditures, and the clerk approves the full $30,000 ceiling (5% + 5%) for the estate's administration.
| Scenario | Sibling A | Sibling B | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Even split (roughly equal work) | $15,000 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Uneven split (A did most of the work) | $24,000 | $6,000 | $30,000 |
| One doesn't request a share | $30,000 | $0 | $30,000 |
In every scenario, the total the clerk approves stays capped at $30,000 — only the division between the two co-executors changes.
Avoiding disputes between co-executors
Since the split tracks actual work rather than a fixed formula, co-executors who might disagree about the division should keep records of their respective time and tasks as administration happens, not reconstruct it at the final accounting. If they can't agree, the Clerk of Superior Court resolves it — the same way the clerk resolves any other disputed commission question.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.