If you are the personal representative appointed in the Will of the decedent, then you will be appointed by the Surrogate as the Executor of the estate. As Executor, you will be required to administer the estate in accordance with the terms of the Will, including the distribution of the residual estate to the beneficiaries designated in the Will.
Probate and Administration of Intestate Estates
If a loved one dies without a Will, then the laws of intestacy will govern the manner in which the estate is administered and distributed to the decedent’s next of kin. In this instance, the personal representative appointed by the Surrogate is called the Administrator of the estate and has the same role as an Executor.
