Final answer:
The key distinguishing feature of estate administration compared to personal trust administration is the requirement of a full accounting to the court, making option 'c' the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The query revolves around distinguishing features of estate administration compared to personal trust administration. Each option presents an aspect to consider, but one aligns perfectly as a definitive characteristic. To elaborate:
- Preservation and protection of assets are indeed central to estate administration but improper as a distinguishing feature since personal trust administrations also hold these objectives, though alongside income generation.
- Discretionary powers can often be more constricted in estates than in trusts, highlighting differences in the control wielded by executors versus trustees.
- Unlike most personal trust administrations, estate administration mandates a full accounting to the court, which signifies a formal process with legal oversight, unlike the relative privacy afforded to trusts.
Considering the provided information, the most fitting and distinguishing feature of an estate administration is the requirement of a full accounting to the court. Thus, the mentioned correct option in the final answer is "c. For estates, a full accounting to the court is required" which distinctively defines estate administration in contrast to personal trust administration, where no such court accounting is uniformly necessary.