Ohio Co-Executors: How Is the Fee Split Up?

Q: How do Ohio probate courts divide the fee between co-executors?

Based on each co-fiduciary's actual contribution to administering the estate. There is no fixed statutory percentage split; the probate court apportions the single fee, and some counties require multiple fiduciaries' fee applications to be filed and considered together.

Q: Can co-executors file separate fee applications in Ohio?

Yes, and several Ohio county probate courts have local rules requiring exactly that when co-fiduciaries seek extraordinary compensation - separate applications filed and reviewed by the court at the same time, so the total awarded stays coordinated.

Q: Should Ohio co-executors keep separate time records?

Yes - since the split tracks actual work rather than a fixed formula, individual records of hours and tasks support a fair, individually justified division when the probate court apportions the fee.

Quick answer: No, co-executors don't each collect a full statutory fee in Ohio. R.C. § 2113.35 sets one fee for the estate, sized the normal way under the tiered 4%/3%/2% schedule plus any 1% add-ons — when more than one fiduciary serves, Ohio probate courts divide that single total among them based on the work each one actually did, not by headcount. Estimate the total pool first with the Ohio executor fee calculator, then use this page to think through how it would be divided.

One fee, divided by contribution

R.C. § 2113.35 doesn't contain a separate multiplier for multiple fiduciaries the way it spells out the 4%/3%/2% tiers — it simply sets the fee for administering the estate. When co-executors or co-administrators serve together, Ohio probate practice treats that fee as a single pool: the court apportions it between them according to their respective contributions to the work, the same general principle applied when Ohio courts divide compensation among any group of fiduciaries acting for one estate.

This differs from some other states

Ohio's "one fee, 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. Ohio has no such multiplier — the total available never exceeds what a single executor would have received under the R.C. § 2113.35 schedule.

Local county rules can add process

Because Ohio probate is organized by county, some probate courts have local rules addressing multiple fiduciaries directly. For example, several counties require that when co-fiduciaries each seek extraordinary compensation (beyond the ordinary statutory fee, under R.C. § 2113.36), their fee applications must be filed and considered by the court at the same time — so the judge sees the full picture before approving any individual share. Check your county probate court's local rules for the specific procedure.

Worked example

Two siblings serve as co-executors of a $500,000 Ohio estate (personal property plus sold real estate), generating the standard $15,000 tiered fee (4%/3%/2%) under R.C. § 2113.35.

Scenario	Sibling A	Sibling B	Total
Even split (roughly equal work)	$7,500	$7,500	$15,000
Uneven split (A did most of the work)	$12,000	$3,000	$15,000
One waives entirely	$15,000	$0	$15,000

In every scenario, the total stays at $15,000 — only the division between the two co-executors changes.

Avoiding disputes between co-executors

Because the split tracks actual work rather than a fixed statutory 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 probate court decides — the same authority it uses to review and, if necessary, reduce any executor's fee under R.C. § 2113.35.

Facing probate in Ohio?

A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.

Talk to an Ohio attorney

Ohio co-executors — frequently asked questions

Do co-executors in Ohio each get a full statutory fee?

No. Ohio probate courts treat the R.C. 2113.35 fee as one total for the estate, divided among co-fiduciaries based on services rendered — not multiplied by the number of executors.

How do Ohio probate courts divide the fee between co-executors?

Based on each co-fiduciary's actual contribution. There is no fixed statutory percentage split; the probate court apportions the single fee.

Can co-executors file separate fee applications in Ohio?

Yes — several county probate courts have local rules requiring exactly that when co-fiduciaries seek extraordinary compensation.

Does Ohio law require co-executors to split the fee evenly?

No — there is no default even split. The probate court apportions the fee based on each person's actual contribution.

Should Ohio co-executors keep separate time records?

Yes — individual records of hours and tasks support a fair, individually justified division when the court apportions the fee.

Estimate for general guidance only, not legal advice. Based on R.C. § 2113.35. The statutory fee is sized the same way regardless of how many fiduciaries serve; only its division among them changes, at the probate court's discretion. Some counties have local rules for multiple fiduciaries' fee applications. A will can set different terms for multiple executors. Consult an Ohio probate attorney to resolve a specific dispute over division.

Ohio Co-Executors: How Is the Fee Split?