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

If the decedent had the foresight to draft and execute a will in Middlefield, Connecticut, the estate is usually administered in a way that follows the instructions the will lays out, as closely as possible.

Most often, a will names a person to serve as executor, whose job it is to ensure that the estate is properly administered.

The executor is normally whoever stands to obtain the most money or property if the will is given effect, since that is the person who likely has the most incentive to do their part in seeing that the probate process plays out to completion.

What if The Will Does Not Name an Executor?

If a will in Middlefield, Connecticut is silent as to who should be the executor, it is up to the court to decide who should serve in that capacity.

This is usually the person who will benefit the most if the will is executed. If there is no will (a situation recognized as "intestacy"), Connecticut has a system of laws distributing the decedent's property to his or her closest living relative. In such a situation, the closest living relative has the most to gain from an orderly administration of the estate, so they will usually be appointed.

If the will doesn't name anyone as executor, or the person who was named as executor is no longer living or cannot be found, anyone who has a direct interest in the will in Middlefield, Connecticut can apply to the court to be the executor.

Whoever is appointed to serve as executor, it is their job to act as the representative of the estate. Among other jobs, they have to account for the decedent's debts and assets, and inform any beneficiaries who might be unaware of the situation.

Can a Middlefield, Connecticut 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 intricacies that may arise, an accomplished Middlefield, Connecticut lawyer can make this process a great deal easier.