{"id":286995,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:16","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/estate\/estate-administration\/estate-administration-the-will-after-death.html"},"modified":"2025-08-28T02:04:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T07:04:00","slug":"estate-administration-the-will-after-death","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/estate-administration\/estate-administration-the-will-after-death.html","title":{"rendered":"Estate Administration: The Will After Death"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Estate Administration: The Will After Death<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aisha Success, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Estate administration<\/span> is the legal process<\/span> of managing and distributing a deceased person<\/span>‘s estate according to their will or state law<\/span> if no will exists. This involves the executor, or personal representative<\/span>, opening probate<\/span>, locating heirs, managing assets, paying debts, filing tax returns, and distributing the remaining assets<\/span> to beneficiaries<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Wills are the most common legal document people use to communicate what they would like to have happen with their estate (property and assets) after their death.<\/p>\n

A will is like an instruction booklet prepared for the probate court regarding a\u00a0decedent’s<\/a>\u00a0estate.<\/p>\n

The probate court oversees the legal process for transferring your assets. The probate court manages the oversight of the estate’s administration and resolves disputes over the will.<\/p>\n

Types of Wills<\/h2>\n

Several types of wills accomplish the goals of naming an\u00a0executor<\/a>\u00a0and transferring assets:<\/p>\n