Final answer:
An administrator is the person appointed by the court to manage the estate of someone who died intestate. In the absence of a will, or if no executor is named, state laws give the hierarchy of heirs to receive the estate. Wills and trusts are other tools for planning the distribution of assets.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person appointed by the court to manage the estate of someone who has died without a will, or who did not name an executor in their will, is called an administrator. This is because the individual has passed away intestate, meaning without a legal will. When a person dies intestate, the distribution of their assets is determined according to state intestacy laws, which set forth a hierarchy of heirs such as the spouse, children, parents, and siblings.
A will is a document expressing a person's wishes regarding the distribution of their assets upon death. If a will is present and valid, an executor named in the will would manage the estate. On the other hand, a trust is an estate planning tool that allows assets to be transferred to heirs outside of probate court, making the process private and typically involving a trustee to manage the trust's assets.