The name given to a personal representative of a deceased person where the deceased did not leave a will, the will did not appoint an executor or the executor is unable or unwilling to act.

In these circumstances the Administration of Estates Act 1925 sets out who can apply to administer the estate (usually a close relative of the deceased). In order to administer the estate, the administrator takes out a grant of representation from the court known as letters of administration or (if there is a will but no executor able or willing to act) letters of administration with will annexed.

For more information, see Practice notes, Probate: entitlement to grant when there is no will and Probate: entitlement to grant when there is a will but no executor.