Administration of a decedent's estate means collection and distribution of so-called probate assets among the decedent's heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors according to the direction of the decedent and the laws.
When an individual dies, certain assets of the decedent (non-probate) may be transferred by contract, such as joint and survivorship property, payable on death accounts, transfer on death property, and most life insurance and retirement benefits. Other assets (probate) may be transferred through proceedings in Probate Court.