Case Name: Hipkins v. Bernard, Executor of Hipkins, and Others
Court: Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Decision Date: 1808-06-15
Citations: 2 Hen. & M. 21
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hipkins v. Bernard, Executor of Hipkins, and Others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Virginia Reports
Volume: 12
Pages: 318–319

Head Matter:
Hipkins v. Bernard, Executor of Hipkins, and Others.
Wednesday, June 15, 1808.
Executors — Commissions. —An executor is not entitled to commissions for delivering bonds, payable to bis testator, to the legatees; nor for turning such bonds into mortgages, and delivering the mortgages.
One of the principal questions in this case was whether the defendant, Bernard, should be allowed a commission of five per cent upon turning bond debts due to his testator, into mortgages, and delivering them over to the legatees.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
An executor is entitled to compensation for his risk, trouble and expenses ; and that should be fixed at a commission of five percent, upon actual receipts, and no more, as a general rule. This rule has not been departed from since the case of Granberry v. Granberry, 1 Wash. 246, unless it passed without notice ; but expenses may or may not be allowed, as shall be reasonable, according to circumstances. The executor, in this case, was not bound to make the exchange ; and the estate should not pay for it; since, if the bonds had been transferred, no commission on them would have been allowed.