Opinion ID: 2037947
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Heading: Executor and Attorney Fees.

Text: Iowa Code section 633.197 sets forth the maximum fee for ordinary services rendered by personal representatives. The maximum fee is calculated by applying the statutory schedule of fees to the gross assets of the estate as listed in the probate inventory for Iowa inheritance tax purposes. The gross assets of the estate listed in the probate inventory for inheritance tax purposes include all property passing by any method of transfer specified in Iowa Code section 450.3, without reduction for the liabilities specified in Iowa Code section 450.12. 701 Iowa Admin.Code § 86.1(1)(g). The attorney's fees are calculated in the same way. Iowa Code § 633.198. Here, the fees were calculated on a gross estate which included the marital trust assets. The bank argues that the marital trust assets were properly included in the gross assets of the estate and that it was not a mistake for the court to compute the fees upon that basis. Unless special circumstances are called to the court's attention, the court may rely upon the contents of the probate file in determining the nature and extent of services rendered. Iowa R.Prob.P. 2(b). In determining the value of gross assets for purposes of determining the maximum fee for ordinary services, the court should not include the value of joint tenancy property which is excludable from the taxable estate, or the value of life insurance payable to a designated beneficiary. Id. We believe the value of the gross assets of the estate should be the value used for Iowa inheritance tax purposes. Although the estimated value shown on the initial inventory may be used by the court in determining fees, where a different value is used for Iowa inheritance tax purposes, the value for inheritance tax purposes should be used.