Personal Representative

A personal representative (also known as an executor in other states) is the person or entity appointed to settle the estate of a person after their death (the deceased person is referred to as the "decedent"). A person does not have the authority to serve as personal representative until appointed by the court. Whom the court appoints as personal representative will depend on whether the decedent left a Will that nominated a person or entity to act as personal representative.

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If the decedent died with a valid Last Will and Testament (known as dying testate), the Will typically names whom the decedent wants to act as the personal representative.

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If a person dies without a Will (known as dying intestate), the court will determine and appoint a personal representative based on Arizona law regarding priority of appointment (A.R.S. § 14-3203).   

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Although most people are eligible to be nominated in a Will and to serve as a personal representative, there are some restrictions. For instance, a minor or a foreign corporation cannot serve as personal representative.

As the appointed personal representative, we will enact the last wishes of the decedent as set forth in their Last Will and Testament. We administer the decedent's estate, which includes collecting and securing the estate's assets, handling funeral arrangements and expenses, settling debts, paying required taxes and filing final tax returns, appearing in court for hearings, and making distributions to beneficiaries.