A letter of administration is a court-issued document that gives someone the authority to act as the estate administrator. The administrator can then access and manage the late person's assets, such as financial accounts and real estate property.
How do you get letters of administration? Gather important documents such as the original death certificate, proof of all financial accounts and investments, copies of insurance policies, property titles, and any creditor statements. File an application with the probate court to be appointed administrator.
Becoming an Executor A common misunderstanding is that nomination in the decedent's last will and testament alone enables the individual to act on behalf of the estate. A nominated personal representative must petition the orphan's court of the proper county to be appointed to serve as the personal representative.
In general, it takes about six to eight weeks to get letters of administration, provided the application is properly filed and includes the required documentation. A number of circumstances can delay this process, such as: Errors in the application.
How Long Does It Take to Obtain Letters of Administration? There are lots of factors that can influence how long it takes your local probate court to issue letters of administration. However, in general, you can expect it to take six to eight weeks.
Dependent on the jurisdiction, administrators hold the power to both sell and lease a decedent's real and personal property. For instance, a decedent may request the deed of their apartment building be transferred to their surviving spouse.
Steps to Become a Personal Representative of an Estate Understand Your Priority for Appointment. Determine the Proper Probate Court. Research the County's Filing Requirements. File the Petition for Administration. Notice of Petition to Administer Estate. File a Bond. Attend the Probate Hearing.
Often this requires providing evidence such as birth certificates or marriage documents. What's more, you may need to provide proof that no will exists, which could take quite some time if all family members cannot be located quickly or if relatives disagree over who should apply for the letters.