The Public Administrator is responsible for administering the estates of those who die in Butte County who:
- Are residents of Butte County
- Are without relatives in California
- With or without a will
- When the family is unable/unwilling to act as administrator
- When appointed by the Court
The duties of the Public Administrator include:
- Protecting a decedent's property from waste, loss or theft
- Making appropriate arrangements for burial
- Investigating to discover all of the decedents assets
- Locating those entitled to inherit from the estate
- Paying the decedents bills
The Public Administrator also handles the County's burial/cremation services for indigent decedents who are residents of Butte County at the time of death.