administrator

1. Individual appointed by a court to wind up (by distributing to all claimants) the estate of a deceased person in cases where (1) there is no will, (2) no executor is named in the will, or (3) the named executor is unable or unwilling to act.

2. Individual appointed by a court to manage or wind up the affairs of an insolvent firm. The feminine form is administratrix. See also administration order.