Administration
in law, the management of the personal estate of anyone dying intestate, or without an executor.
If the deceased leaves real estate, the estate devolves upon heirs related by blood; if personal property is left and no executors named, administrators are appointed by some court. In the United States a surrogate or judge of probate appoints the administrator, and grants letters of administration as authority.
The word is also applied to the official terms of the President of the United States, and the Governors of States, and to their official advisers.