Finding a Personal Representative of an Estate

The personal representative of an estate is the person who is held responsible for managing the financial affairs of a decedent. The appointing of a personal representative of an estate well be governed by whether or not the decedent left behind a will.

A female personal representative if an estate that involves a will can be known as an executrix or an executor, while a male representative will always be known as an executor. If the decedent has not left behind a will, the female personal representative assigned to the estate can be known as an administratrix or administrator. A male personal representative of an estate that does not have a will can be called an administrator.

If an executor named in a will cannot or will not serve as the personal representative of an estate, a probate court may have to name an administrator cum testamento annexo, which roughly translated from Latin mean "an administrator who sets aside a will."

A court may also appoint a personal representative to an estate in the event of an administrator de bonis non, or prior administrator who has not completed the handling of the estate. The final type of personal representative of an estate that might be appointed is one in which an interim administrator will be given restricted powers over an estate, with the interim period lasting until proper legal representation can be found.

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