Personal Representative
The person appointed by the court to manage a deceased person's estate during the probate process. Sometimes called an executor or administrator.
A personal representative is the person responsible for handling a deceased person’s estate through the probate process. In older legal language, this person was called an “executor” (if named in a will) or an “administrator” (if there was no will). Minnesota’s Uniform Probate Code uses the term “personal representative” for both situations.
The personal representative’s duties include gathering the deceased person’s assets, paying debts and taxes, notifying creditors, and distributing what remains to the beneficiaries. The personal representative is appointed by the probate court and must act as a fiduciary, meaning they must act in the best interests of the estate and its beneficiaries.
Why it matters: If you are named as personal representative in someone’s will, or if a family member dies without a will and you want to handle their estate, you will need to be appointed by the court. This comes with legal responsibilities and deadlines.
Example: A parent dies and their will names their adult child as personal representative. The child petitions the probate court for appointment, then manages the parent’s bank accounts, pays final bills and taxes, and distributes the remaining assets to the beneficiaries listed in the will.
Probate court, wills, estate administration, settling a deceased person's affairs