Administrator, in the law of England, is the person to whom the Probate Division of the High Court commits the administration or distribution of the personal estate of a person dying intestate, or leaving a will in which no executor is named. In the Scottish law, a father is ADMINISTRATOR-IN-LAW for his children, and as such, is their guardian during minority. This power in the father ceases by the child's discontinuing to reside with him, unless he continues to live at the father's expense; and, in the case of daughters, it ceases on their marriage; but by a statute of 1886, the mother has now a right to apply to the court to appoint a guardian, if the husband is not a suitable guardian for the children.
In the United States, an administrator is a person appointed by competent authority to manage and distribute the estate of an intestate. Any person competent to make contracts may be appointed. The husband of a deceased wife, or the wife of a deceased husband, the next of kin, or creditors of the decedent, may be appointed to administer upon the estate. An administrator is generally obliged to give a bond for the faithful performance of the duties therein mentioned. It is the duty of an administrator to file an inventory of the property, and to collect outstanding debts due the estate; as also to pay such bills as are preferred, such as medical attendance, nurse, expenses of burial, and debts due the government. After paying all legal claims, the administrator must make distribution of the residue under direction of the court.