Also known as: special administrator · special administratrix · temporary administrator
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A temporary personal representative appointed to collect and manage estate assets pending the qualification of a general personal representative. The role carries limited powers necessary to preserve the estate and terminates automatically upon appointment of a general personal representative.
Spencer Silver died suddenly. The court appointed Stella Shapiro as special administrator of his estate. Within thirty days Stella collected the decedent's bank records and contacted creditors but sent no written notice of her appointment to any heirs or devisees. Because she served only as special administrator the statute imposed no duty to mail appointment information.
Sebastian Santos died owning encumbered farm equipment and livestock. Sierra Santos was appointed special administrator. Two months later she had not prepared any written inventory or valuations. Because she served only as special administrator the statute imposed no duty to compile and send an inventory within three months of appointment.
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A special administrator must collect and manage estate assets, preserve them, account for them, and deliver them to the general personal representative upon qualification. The role carries only the powers necessary to perform those limited duties.
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The appointment terminates according to the terms of the appointing order or automatically upon appointment of a general personal representative.
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No. The statute expressly excepts special administrators from the thirty-day notice requirement that applies to other personal representatives.
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No. The statute expressly excepts special administrators from the three-month inventory requirement that applies to other personal representatives.
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Yes. The registrar may appoint a special administrator in informal proceedings when immediate action is needed to protect estate assets before a general personal representative qualifies.
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…committed suicide on October 30, 1991, in Las Vegas, Nevada. On November 18, 1991, Robert L. Greene was appointed special administrator of the estate of William Everett Kane. On December 3, 1991, William Kane, Jr., and Katharine Kane each filed separate will contests. On December 3, 1991, in open court, counsel for the…