All master commissioners shall be limited in their total personal compensation derived from fees in accordance with the Rules of Administrative Procedure of the Court of Justice, Part IV, unless approved by the Chief Justice. Fees in excess of the personal compensation of the commissioner and office expenses and salaries shall be remitted as provided in Rule 53.08; however, anticipated six (6) months expenses may be retained.
Rule 53.07.Limit on compensation.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 53.07 caps a master commissioner's total personal compensation from fees under the Court of Justice's Rules of Administrative Procedure, Part IV, unless the Chief Justice approves more, and requires fees above that cap and office costs to be remitted, though up to six months of anticipated expenses can be kept.
Full Text of Rule 53.07
Amendment History
(Adopted October 24, 1977, effective January 1, 1978; amended December 16, 1988, effective January 1, 1989; amended November 3, 2010, effective January 1, 2011; amended December 9, 2022, effective January 1, 2023.)
Plain-English Summary
Master commissioners can't keep unlimited fee income for themselves. Their total personal compensation from fees is capped under the Rules of Administrative Procedure of the Court of Justice, Part IV, unless the Chief Justice signs off on an exception. Fees collected beyond that personal-compensation cap, plus office expenses and salaries, have to be remitted the way Rule 53.08 describes. Commissioners are allowed to hold back an amount covering up to six months of anticipated office expenses before remitting the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit on what a Kentucky master commissioner can earn?
Yes. Total personal compensation from fees is limited under the Rules of Administrative Procedure of the Court of Justice, Part IV, unless the Chief Justice approves a different amount.
What happens to commissioner fees above the personal compensation limit?
They must be remitted as provided in Rule 53.08, after covering office expenses and salaries.
Can a commissioner hold back money for future office expenses?
Yes. Anticipated expenses for up to six months may be retained rather than remitted.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 53.07). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky (Ky. Const. § 116). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: master commissioner pay cap KentuckyCR 53.07 limit on compensationexcess commissioner fees remittedcommissioner compensation limit Kentuckysix months anticipated expenses commissioner