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Simple English definitions for legal terms
public administrator
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A quick definition of public administrator:
A public administrator is a person appointed by the court to manage the property and assets of someone who has died and has no relatives or other person to take care of their estate. The public administrator is preferred over creditors because they are a competent public official who can act in the best interest of the estate. In some states, like California, relatives of the deceased are preferred over the public administrator. The public administrator has the power to sell personal property, serve process on creditors, distribute assets, and file an informatory account. They can also pay for the use and benefit of an infant distributee or legatee who has no guardian of the property.A more thorough explanation:
A public administrator is a government official appointed by the court to manage the estates of people who have died without any relatives or other designated person to handle their affairs. The public administrator is responsible for ensuring that the assets of the estate are distributed according to the law.
- If someone dies without a will and has no living relatives, the court may appoint a public administrator to manage their estate.
- In California, if there are living relatives, they are preferred over the public administrator to handle the estate.
- The public administrator has the power to sell personal property of the deceased at public auction, serve process on creditors, and distribute assets of small estates without an accounting proceeding.
These examples illustrate how a public administrator is appointed to manage the estate of someone who has died without any designated person to handle their affairs. The public administrator has the power to manage the assets of the estate and ensure that they are distributed according to the law.