2024 California Rules of Court
Rule 7.700. Compensation paid in advance
(a) No compensation in advance of court order
The personal representative must neither pay nor receive, and the attorney for the personal representative must not receive, statutory commissions or fees or fees for extraordinary services in advance of an order of the court authorizing their payment.
(b) Surcharge for payment or receipt of advance compensation
In addition to removing the personal representative and imposing any other sanctions authorized by law against the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative, the court may surcharge the personal representative for payment or receipt of statutory commissions or fees or fees for extraordinary services in advance of an order of the court authorizing their payment. The surcharge may include interest at the legal rate from the date of payment.
Rule 7.700 adopted effective January 1, 2003.