How does the Public Administrator's Office get involved in a case?
The Public Administrator may be notified of a death by mortuaries, the Coroner, residential facilities, hospitals, landlords or private citizens when someone dies and there are assets to protect or the family of the decedent cannot be immediately located.

How does one report such a case?
You may call the Public Administrator's office at (714) 567-7660. Public Administrator Deputies will provide information and assistance.

What are the legal responsibilities of the Public Administrator?
To provide for interment of a deceased person when there are no known relatives, make a search for heirs and, if none are found, to administer the estate.To protect the assets and manage the affairs of deceased residents of Orange County who, at the time of death, left no known heirs, no will, no named executor, or when there is no qualified person willing to assume the responsibility.

To act as the administrator of estates when named in a will as executor or in some cases when heirs request the PA to administer the estate.

Will the Public Administrator make funeral arrangements?
Yes. According to California law the Public Administrator is required to make funeral arrangements if there is no relative to do so. The Public Administrator Deputy will also assist the family in making necessary funeral arrangements in cases that involve the Public Administrator acting as administrator. The Public Administrator will make arrangements commensurate with any pre-need plans of the decedent, the ability of the estate to pay, and the Probate Court policy as to the reasonable amount to be paid for these services out of estate assets.

What are the primary duties of the Public Administrator?
The Public Administrator has the same duties and functions as private administrators. They are to:

In performing these functions the Public Administrator is required to maintain a fully documented audit trail to make certain that each and every asset is accounted for and distributed.