Which term refers to a person appointed to administer the affairs of a deceased person when they died without a will?

Which term refers to a person appointed to administer the affairs of a deceased person when they died without a will?

• A. Affidavit
• B. Allegation
• C. Administrator
• D. Allocution

Answer: (C)

When someone dies without a will, the estate is administered by a person appointed by the court. This person is called the administrator. The administrator’s job is to gather the decedent’s assets, pay debts and taxes, and distribute the remaining assets to the rightful heirs under state intestacy laws. If there had been a will, the appointed person would be the executor instead. The other terms refer to different legal concepts: an affidavit is a sworn statement, an allegation is a claim in a pleading, and allocution is a formal address to the court. So the administrator is the correct term for handling an intestate estate.

When someone dies without a will, the estate is administered by a person appointed by the court. This person is called the administrator. The administrator’s job is to gather the decedent’s assets, pay debts and taxes, and distribute the remaining assets to the rightful heirs under state intestacy laws. If there had been a will, the appointed person would be the executor instead. The other terms refer to different legal concepts: an affidavit is a sworn statement, an allegation is a claim in a pleading, and allocution is a formal address to the court. So the administrator is the correct term for handling an intestate estate.