This is done either:
by the “executor” appointed under the deceased’s will, or
if there’s no will, then normally by a close relative who’s entitled to benefit from the deceased’s estate under the laws of “intestacy” (the laws that say who a person’s property goes to if they didn’t leave a will). The close relative gets formally appointed by the courts to manage the estate, and is then called the “administrator”.
“Personal representative” is a general term that covers both executors and administrators – in other words, it refers to whoever is doing the job of managing the estate, under a will or not. But in this chapter we’ll use the combined term “executor/administrator”, rather than “personal representative”.
This part of the chapter includes information about dealing with the deceased’s will (as well as what happens when there isn’t a will). To find out about making your own will, and how the directions in your will might be overridden in some cases, see the “Wills” chapter.