Personal Representative

What is a Personal Representative?

A Personal Representative, sometimes known as an Executor, is the individual or entity appointed by the probate court to be responsible for administering a deceased person’s estate. A Personal Representative’s key role is to ensure all assets are secured, all debts are settled, taxes are filed and paid, and upon court approval, net assets of the estate are distributed to the devisees in the person’s Will, or if there was no Will, to the heirs according to the state’s intestate succession statutes.

When and Why Are They Needed?

A Personal Representative is often needed when someone passes away leaving assets that need a legal representative to probate the estate, whether the deceased person had a Will or no estate plan at all. The Personal Representative is granted legal authority by the probate court to stand in the deceased person’s place to handle their estate affairs. Examples that may trigger the need for a Personal Representative include accessing financial accounts with no beneficiaries listed on them or selling real property owned by the deceased person individually, personal injury cases where a party to the case is deceased, wrongful death cases, and more. The Personal Representative acts as the estate’s point person during this often complex and time-sensitive process, helping to ensure everything proceeds legally and according to the decedent’s wishes.

How Nomination Works (Will Nomination)

Clients nominate a Personal Representative directly in their Will, specifying who should handle their estate after they pass. In many cases, the nominated Personal Representative may choose to hire a professional fiduciary to manage the responsibilities involved if the nominated Personal Representative is not able or willing to serve. Our team is available to serve as Personal Representatives for probates that need to be opened or to support current Personal Representatives needing expert guidance.

Our Role and Expertise

At Estate Administrators, LLC, we take on the full range of duties involved in probate administration. From retaining a probate attorney and working with them to complete and file necessary court paperwork to maintaining clear communication with courts, beneficiaries, and creditors to managing deadlines and facilitating asset distribution, we guide the entire process. We also facilitate and manage the distribution, sale, and donation of tangible personal property, rehoming of pets, and other items unique to each probate. Our expertise ensures timely, compliant estate administration, giving families peace of mind during difficult times.