A person appointed in a will to administer an estate is known as what?

The individual designated in a will to manage and distribute the deceased person's estate is referred to as an executor. This role is critical because the executor is responsible for ensuring that the terms of the will are carried out according to the wishes of the deceased. The executor handles various tasks such as gathering and managing the estate's assets, paying off debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries as outlined in the will.

In contrast, an administrator is typically appointed in instances where there is no will, or in cases where a will cannot be probated, which often occurs when someone dies intestate (without a valid will). A beneficiary is a person who inherits or benefits from the estate, and an agent generally refers to someone authorized to act on behalf of another person, often in a broader context outside the specific functions of estate administration.