What is a Personal Representative?
What is an Estate Administrator?
What is an Administrator c.t.a.?
What is an Administrator d.b.n.c.t.a.?
What is a Curator?
What is an Executor?
What are Letters of Qualification or Administration?
Q: What is a Personal Representative?
In the Probate context, "Personal representative" includes the executor under a will or the administrator of the estate of a decedent, the administrator of such estate with the will annexed, the administrator of such estate unadministered by a former representative, whether there is a will or not, any person who is under the order of a circuit court to take into his possession the estate of a decedent for administration, and every other curator of a decedent's estate, for or against whom suits may be brought for causes of action that accrued to or against the decedent.
See VA Probate Code 64.2-100
Back to the top.
Q: What is an Estate Administrator?
An Estate Administrator is a person qualifying to administer a deceased person's probate estate if there is no Will.
Back to the top.
Q: What is an Administrator c.t.a.?
An Administrator c.t.a. is a person qualifying to administer the probate estate of deceased person when there is a valid Will but the person appointed was not named in the Will as Executor. For reference purposes, the letters c.t.a. is an abbreviation for cum testamento annexo (with a will attached).
Back to the top.
Q: What is an Administrator d.b.n.c.t.a.?
An Administrator d.b.n.c.t.a. is an administrator of a deceased person's probate estate where the initial Executor dies, resigns or is removed before the probate estate is closed. The abbreviation d.b.n. is for de bonis non (for the goods not administered).
Back to the top.
Q: What is a Curator?
A Curator is a person appointed to preserve a probate estate before an Executor or Administrator qualifies. A Curator typically qualifies if there is a probate dispute that makes Probate in the Solemn Form or Probate in the Common Form impossible, impracticable or untimely.
Back to the top.
Q: What is an Executor?
An Executor is a person qualifying to administer a deceased person's probate estate if there is a valid WIll and that person was nominated by the decedent as Executor in the decedent's Will.
Back to the top.
Q: What are Letters of Qualification or Administration?
Letters of Qualification or Administration are documents issued by the Circuit Court or Probate Clerk where a personal representative is authorized by the court to administer the probate estate of the decedent. They are issued with a seal and needed for financial institutions to disclose and take commands from the personal representative of the decedent's estate.
Back to the top.