Special Administrators

Estate Litigation and Special Administrators

Curtis E. Shirley's Article on Appointment of a Special Administrator

A special administrator is a person appointed by the court to manage some part of an estate during the probate process or some other well-defined time period. The duty of a special administrator is to preserve the assets of the estate. A number of circumstances may require an executor of an estate to petition the court to appoint a special administrator. These include inheritance disputes, such as will contests and trust contests, that could delay probating the will or executing the trust. The court could also appoint a special administrator if the executor or personal representative has a conflict of interest that is interfering with the proper administration of the estate, such as indebtedness to the estate.

To learn more about special administrators and their role during estate litigation or other inheritance disputes, contact Curtis E. Shirley at his Indianapolis law office. An attorney whose practice is limited to inheritance disputes and related matters, Mr. Shirley is knowledgeable about Indiana law as it applies to special administrators.

Who Can Be a Special Administrator?

A special administrator of an estate can also be the executor named in the will of the deceased. The administrator could be an expert in matters such as antiques, stocks and bonds, rare books, horses, or any other part of the estate requiring specialized knowledge to manage the assets. Or the special administrator could be a disinterested, neutral party who has no stake in the outcome of any estate disputes.

Contact an Experienced Indiana Estate Litigation Lawyer

Curtis E. Shirley handles inheritance disputes throughout Indiana and beyond. Consequently, he is well-versed in the procedures for petitioning the court to appoint a special administrator. In addition, he is in an excellent position to provide advice on the selection of an individual to be the special administrator, whether he or she is an expert in fine art, or a distant relative of the deceased. He helps executors and families get the right person for the job during what could be a prolonged and difficult period. Contact his Indianapolis law office today.