You just got a letter that says the court has opened a loved one's estate, and now you are seeing two words that sound nearly the same: executor and administrator. Both are people who handle a dead person's estate, but the difference usually comes down to whether there is a valid will. An executor is the person named in the will to carry out its instructions. An administrator is the person the probate court appoints when there is no will, or when no named executor can serve. Either way, that person may gather assets, pay debts, deal with paperwork, and distribute property to the right beneficiaries or heirs.

The label matters because only the properly authorized person usually has power to act for the estate. Banks, insurers, and courts often want proof of appointment before releasing money, signing off on property transfers, or allowing a lawsuit to move forward. That authority may come through letters testamentary for an executor or letters of administration for an administrator.

This can directly affect an injury claim. If the person who died had a pending personal injury claim, or if the estate needs to bring one tied to an accident, the executor or administrator may be the one who must act. In Mississippi, most personal injury claims are governed by a 3-year statute of limitations under Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49, so delays in opening an estate can create real problems.