Who is a personal representative appointed by the court to manage an intestate decedent's assets?

An administrator is a personal representative appointed by the court to manage the assets of a decedent who has died intestate, meaning without a will. Since there is no will to outline the decedent's wishes for the distribution of their estate, the court appoints an administrator to oversee the entire process of asset management, which includes gathering the decedent's assets, paying any debts or taxes, and ultimately distributing the remaining property to the heirs according to state intestacy laws.

The role of the administrator differs from that of an executor, who is appointed when there is a valid will in place. Executors typically carry out the specific instructions laid out in the will and manage the estate accordingly. A guardian, on the other hand, is responsible for the personal care of a minor or an incapacitated adult, rather than managing estate assets. A trustee manages trust assets based on the terms of a trust agreement, which is also distinct from handling an intestate estate. Thus, the appropriate term for the personal representative in the context of an intestate decedent is indeed an administrator.