The Probate Code charges the Public Administrator (PA) of each county to investigate and administer the estates of persons who die with no known next of kin or without a will. One of the Public Administrator's main responsibilities is investigatory: attempting to locate next of kin, locating and protecting the assets of the deceased person and locating a will. Once a next of kin is located, the family member is often named as the personal representative of the estate. However, for a variety of reasons, but largely when no next of kin can be found or the estate is at risk for loss, waste or misappropriation, the Superior Court appoints the Public Administrator as the personal representative of the estate and instructs the PA to administer the estate. The Public Administrator is frequently appointed by the court as a neutral stake holder in contested estates.

The Public Administrator receives 300 to 500 new referrals each year which will be investigated and about half of which the Court will appoint the department as administrator of the estate. The average time span of an estate from referral to final disposition by the court is 2.5 years.Under state law, the department is required to present to the court a detailed accounting of all client assets, debts, payments, obligations, and any other relevant fact regarding the estate.