Legal Definitions - administration (of an estate)

Definition:Administration of an estate refers to the management of the assets and debts of a person who has passed away. When someone dies without appointing a personal representative to handle their estate, the court will appoint an administrator to manage it. The appointment of an administrator may be governed by state laws.

Example: In Idaho, if someone dies without a will, the court will appoint an administrator to manage their estate. The following people are entitled to be appointed as administrator in the following order: surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandchildren, next of kin, any of the kindred, public administrator, creditors, and any legally competent person. However, in the case of a member of a partnership, the surviving partner cannot be appointed as administrator.

Explanation: This example illustrates how the appointment of an administrator is determined by state laws. In Idaho, the order of preference for who can be appointed as administrator is outlined in the Idaho Probate Code. This ensures that the estate is managed by someone who is competent and has a legal right to do so.