Definition of ADMINISTRATOR: (noun) / any person to whom letters of administration have been issued (NY SCPA §103(2)); a person legally appointed to represent an intestate estate
An administrator is appointed by the Surrogate’s Court to act on behalf of an estate where the decedent had no will, known as dying intestate. Letters of Administration refers to the document issued by the Surrogate granting authority to an administrator.
The word “administratrix” used to be regularly applied as the female equivalent of “administrator”. It is less common today especially in the Surrogate’s Courts of the 5 boroughs of New York City. Usage of the suffix “-trix” as applied to any word to indicate the female version is becoming increasingly outdated
