An administrator is the person appointed by the court to manage the estate of someone who dies without a will – this is called dying “intestate”. See the chapter “A death in the family”, under “Dealing with the deceased’s property: Wills, “intestacy”, and small estates”.
Usually a family member applies to be the administrator. They must give the court evidence that everyone who is equally close to the deceased person has either agreed to or been told about their application. The court will almost always appoint the deceased person’s next of kin as the administrator, unless they do not wish to have the job. If more than one person applies, the court will usually appoint the administrator according to the following order:
Administration Act 1969, s 6; High Court Rules 2016 (LI 2016/225), rule 27.35(4)
the surviving spouse or de facto partner, then
the children of the deceased, then
the parents of the deceased, then
brothers and sisters of the deceased, then
grandparents, then
uncles and aunts.