The terms “Personal Representative” and “Executor” are often used interchangeably and refer to the person who is appointed by the court to manage the probate process and administer the estate of a decedent.
In Indiana, the term “Executor” is used specifically to refer to the person named in a will to manage an estate, while a “Personal Representative” is used to refer to anyone appointed by the court, whether or not there is a will. For the rest of this page, only the term “Personal Representative” will be used. The Personal Representative is held to a high standard of care and must act in the best interests of the estate and the legal heirs and Indiana law.