"Estate administration" refers to the process which must be followed when the estate of a person who has recently died is being distributed, either according to his or her wishes as laid out in a will, or the laws governing the distribution of the assets of a person who dies without a will.

If the decedent has made a will in Apple Valley, Minnesota, the process will play out according to the instructions mentioned in the will.

Normally, wills appoint an executor who is responsible for overseeing the administration of the estate, and seeing that its provisions are carried out, to the extent possible.

The executor is normally 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 an Apple Valley, Minnesota 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 usually the person who will benefit the most if the will is executed. If there is no will (a situation recognized as "intestacy"), Minnesota 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 no executor is named in the will, anyone with a stake in the will can apply to the court in Apple Valley, Minnesota to be the executor of the estate, if they wish.

When the executor is chosen, they serve as a sort of incarnation of the decedent's estate - the estate's legal interests become the executor's interests, and the executor is expected to protect the estate's interests as they would their own.

Can a Apple Valley, Minnesota Estate Administration Attorney Help?

Some people are surprised when they find out they've been named the executor of a relative's estate. The responsibilities can seem daunting, but with the help of a brilliant Apple Valley, Minnesota attorney, the process almost always goes pretty smoothly.