Estate administration, in basic terms, is the process of maintenance and distribution of a person's assets after they die.

If the decedent has made a will in Kaneohe, Hawaii, the process will play out according to the instructions stated in the will.

The decedent typically names in the will an executor of his or her estate. The executor is the person whose job it is to take the lead role in the administration of an estate.

The executor is typically the person who stands to inherit the most money or property from the will, since this personn will have the greatest incentive to see the probate and administration process to completion.

What if The Will Does Not Name an Executor?

If a Kaneohe, Hawaii will does not name an executor, or no will exists or can be found, it's up to the local court to decide who should be the executor.

This is most frequently the person who stands to gain the most from the will, or who would inherit the most under Hawaii's intestacy laws. Intestacy is the system that every state has in order to deal with the property of people who die without a will. It typically distributes the property to the closest living relatives of the decedent, assuming they can be located.

When a will is silent as to who should be the executor, any person who has some direct interest in the outcome can ask to be named executor by the Kaneohe, Hawaii court.

Whoever ends up as the executor, it is their responsibility to serve as the personal representative of the estate. They will be responsible for taking account of all of the decedent's assets and debts, as well as notifying beneficiaries who may be estranged from the decedent, among other things.

Can a Kaneohe, Hawaii Estate Administration Attorney Help?

If you are the executor of an estate, and don't know how to handle some of the legal and financial difficulties that may arise, an efficient Kaneohe, Hawaii lawyer can make this process a great deal easier.