{"id":2346,"date":"2026-11-12T01:52:59","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T01:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/executor-fees-bc\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T01:52:59","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T01:52:59","slug":"executor-fees-bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/executor-fees-bc\/","title":{"rendered":"Executor fees in BC: how much an executor can charge, and what courts actually allow"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 11, 2026<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2024, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 11, 2026: the Trustee Act (ss. 88 to 90), the Supreme Court Civil Rules (Rules 25-13, 25-14) and the court decisions cited below checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

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The maximum:<\/strong> under BC’s Trustee Act, up to 5% of the gross value of the estate’s capital, plus up to 5% of the income earned during the administration, plus an optional care and management fee of up to 0.4% a year of the assets’ average market value.<\/p>\n

The reality:<\/strong> 5% is a ceiling, not an entitlement. Courts allow what the work was worth, and often much less.<\/p>\n

Approval:<\/strong> the fee must be approved by all the beneficiaries or by the court. Taking it early is a breach of trust.<\/p>\n

Calculate the maximum<\/a> \u00b7 Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

The lawyers who handle these estate files<\/p>

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>
About our lawyers<\/summary>

Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and practises probate, estate litigation and immigration. He has represented clients in the Provincial and Supreme Courts of British Columbia, from chambers applications to contested trials.<\/p>

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is a probate, estates and immigration lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p><\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n

In BC, an executor is entitled to be paid for administering an estate, but the amount is limited by law. If the will doesn’t set the fee, section 88 of the Trustee Act caps it at 5% of the gross aggregate value of the estate’s capital and 5% of the income earned while the estate is being administered, with a possible care and management fee of up to 0.4% a year for longer administrations. Those are maximums. The actual fee is what the executor’s work was reasonably worth, judged on the size of the estate, the care and responsibility involved, the time spent, the skill shown and the result. It must be approved by every beneficiary, or by the court, before the executor takes it.<\/p>\n\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, a probate and estate litigation law firm with offices in Surrey<\/a>, Abbotsford<\/a> and Vancouver, BC, acts for executors and beneficiaries on executor remuneration and passing of accounts; this guide is by Pardeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n\n

How are executor fees calculated in BC?<\/h2>\n
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BC executor remuneration under Trustee Act s. 88<\/caption>\n
Part of the fee<\/th>Maximum<\/th>Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
Fee on capital<\/td>5% of the gross aggregate value of the estate’s capital<\/td>Based on the original estate assets, valued when sold or distributed. Assets that pass outside the estate don’t count<\/td><\/tr>\n
Fee on income<\/td>5% of the income earned during the administration<\/td>Interest, rent and dividends earned by the estate<\/td><\/tr>\n
Care and management fee<\/td>0.4% a year of the average market value of the assets<\/td>For ongoing management, often in longer estates or trusts; calculated year by year<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

If the will sets the fee, the will governs instead of section 88, and it can even allow more than 5%: in Re Morrison Estate<\/em>, 2009 BCSC 217, a will clause effectively raised the cap to 10%. A fee can also be fixed by agreement with the beneficiaries.<\/p>\n\n

Executor fee calculator (the legal maximum)<\/h2>\n\n