An administrator is the person appointed to manage the estate of someone who died without a valid Will. The role is essentially the same as an executor’s, but the authority to act comes from a Grant of Letters of Administration rather than from a Will.
Administrator vs executor
An executor is named in a Will. An administrator is appointed by the Probate Registry when there is no valid Will. Once the respective grant is issued, both have the same legal authority over the estate.
Who can be an administrator?
The right to apply follows the Rules of Intestacy: a surviving spouse or civil partner has priority, followed by adult children, then other relatives. An unmarried partner does not automatically have the right to act.
What does an administrator do?
- Value the estate fully as at the date of death
- Complete and submit the IHT400 to HMRC
- Apply for Letters of Administration using form PA1A
- Collect in assets, pay debts and taxes, distribute the estate in accordance with the Rules of Intestacy
- Draw up estate accounts
YouCanDoProbate’s Intestacy Walkthrough guides you through who is entitled to inherit, and the platform completes the PA1A and all required IHT400 forms automatically.
