What is an administrator?

An administrator is a person appointed by the court in California to manage the estate of a person who has died without a will or with a will that doesn’t name an executor. The administrator is responsible for handling the decedent’s financial obligations, which includes managing assets, paying debts, and filing the necessary paperwork. The administrator is supervised by the court in a procedure known as probate, which is the legal proceeding used to sort out the estate of a deceased person. The appointed administrator is the only person with the legal authority to act on behalf of the deceased person’s estate. In some cases, the appointed administrator may need to sell real estate and other property in order to pay off debts or distribute assets to beneficiaries. The appointed administrator is also responsible for filing any legal documents and paperwork needed for the probate process.

Related FAQs

What is a personal representative?
What is an advance health care directive?
What is a spendthrift trust?
What is a lapsed beneficiary?
Who is responsible for administering an estate?
What is an affidavit?
What is an intestate succession?
What is the difference between an estate and a trust?
What kind of documents is needed to prove will validity?
How are disputes resolved during probate?

Related Blog Posts

What You Should Know About Probate Law - July 31, 2023
Probate Law: A Comprehensive Guide - August 7, 2023
Common Issues in Probate Litigation - August 14, 2023
The Benefits of Hiring a Probate Lawyer - August 21, 2023
What is Intestate Succession? - August 28, 2023