Actress Daveigh Chase died in June 2026 at only 35 years old.
Known for voicing Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and playing Samara in The Ring, Chase reportedly died without a will. Probate filings estimate that she left an estate worth approximately $400,000.
Now a new question has emerged:
Who should be put in charge of that estate?
Chase’s mother, Cathy Chase, petitioned to become administrator. Her father later became involved in the probate proceeding, and current court filings describe opposition to the mother’s appointment. Chase’s former business manager and father reportedly support having an independent professional fiduciary administer the estate instead.
The allegations surrounding Chase’s family relationships are disputed, and her probate case is governed by California law, not Georgia law.
But the case highlights an important question that applies to families everywhere:
If someone dies without naming an executor in a will, who gets to take control of the estate?
For Georgia families, there is a legal process for answering that question.
Why the Daveigh Chase Estate Is Back in the News
According to probate documents obtained by People, Chase was unmarried and had no children when she died. Her mother initially petitioned the court to administer her approximately $400,000 estate.
The situation has since become more complicated.
Recent filings reportedly state that Chase’s former business manager, John Ryan, opposes the mother’s appointment. Ryan alleges that Chase had a difficult relationship with her mother and had sought emancipation from her as a teenager. Chase’s father is also reported to support appointing professional fiduciary Megan Boling instead.
These are allegations contained in an ongoing California probate matter. This article does not take a position on which person should ultimately be appointed.
The useful estate-planning question is what happens when there isn’t an executor already named in a will.
That’s where an administrator comes in.
What Is an Estate Administrator?
An administrator is a person appointed to handle an estate when there is no executor available to serve.
This frequently happens when someone dies intestate, meaning without a valid will.
The administrator may become responsible for tasks such as:
- Identifying estate assets
- Securing property
- Opening estate accounts
- Handling creditor claims
- Paying appropriate estate expenses
- Addressing tax matters
- Keeping records
- Communicating with heirs
- Distributing property
- Completing the probate administration
In other words, dying without a will does not mean nobody needs to manage the estate.
Someone still has to do the work.
The major difference is that the deceased person may no longer have a documented choice about who that person should be.
Who Administers an Estate When There Is No Will in Georgia?
Georgia law specifically addresses the selection and appointment of an administrator for an intestate estate.
Under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-20, all heirs of an intestate decedent may unanimously select an administrator, subject to an exception involving a surviving spouse when a divorce or separate-maintenance action was pending at death.
If the heirs do not unanimously select someone, the probate court makes the appointment based on what will best serve the interests of the estate while considering a statutory order of preference.
That order generally begins with:
- The surviving spouse, subject to the statutory exception
- One or more other heirs, or a person selected by the majority in interest of the heirs
- Another eligible person
- A creditor of the estate
- The county administrator
That means there isn’t always a simple answer such as:
“The oldest child automatically handles everything.”
Georgia law provides a process for determining who receives the authority.
Georgia Code § 53-6-20: Selection or Appointment of Administrator
Can the Heirs Choose the Administrator?
Potentially, yes.
This is an important feature of Georgia law.
When all of the heirs of an intestate decedent unanimously agree on an administrator, Georgia law generally allows them to select that person, subject to the statutory requirements and exceptions.
Imagine someone dies without a spouse but leaves three adult children.
If all three agree that one sibling should administer the estate, they may be able to make that unanimous selection.
But families do not always agree.
One sibling may believe another is financially irresponsible.
One may live locally while everyone else lives out of state.
Someone may have been estranged from the deceased.
There may already be disagreements about property.
That’s when appointment can become more complicated.
What Happens When the Heirs Cannot Agree?
When there is no unanimous selection, the Georgia probate court can make the appointment.
The court is directed to make an appointment that will best serve the interests of the estate, while considering the preference structure established by Georgia law.
That distinction matters.
Having a family relationship with the deceased can give someone priority in the statutory order, but probate administration is still a legal responsibility.
The person appointed may gain authority over significant property and financial matters.
When relatives disagree over who should have that authority, the probate process provides a forum for resolving the issue.
Does the Closest Relative Automatically Become Administrator?
Not necessarily.
Family relationship is relevant, but there is a difference between being an heir and being the person legally authorized to administer the estate.
An heir is someone who may be entitled to inherit under applicable law.
An administrator is the person authorized to manage the estate.
Those aren’t the same role.
For example, several siblings might all be heirs while only one person ultimately serves as administrator.
Or the circumstances might support appointment of another eligible person.
This is one reason families shouldn’t assume that a relative can immediately start accessing accounts, selling property, or distributing assets simply because that person expects to inherit.
Proper legal authority matters.
Can Someone Object to an Administrator?
Disputes about who should administer an estate can arise.
One heir may believe another candidate is unsuitable.
There may be concerns about:
- Conflicts of interest
- Financial management
- Family hostility
- Ability to keep accurate records
- Communication problems
- Prior conduct involving the deceased
- Whether the person can administer the estate impartially
The mere existence of family conflict does not automatically establish that someone is legally ineligible to serve.
But disputes over appointment can require the probate court to evaluate the applicable law and circumstances.
The Daveigh Chase case provides a current example of how personal history can become part of an administrator dispute when the deceased did not leave a will naming the person she wanted to handle her estate.
Can a Neutral Third Party Administer an Estate?
In some circumstances, someone other than a close family member may administer an estate.
That’s exactly what has become an issue in the Chase proceeding.
Recent reporting says Chase’s former business manager and father support the appointment of an independent professional fiduciary rather than her mother.
Georgia has its own laws governing administrator appointments, so the California dispute should not be treated as a model for how a Georgia court would decide the same facts.
But neutral administration can be worth considering when family conflict is severe.
Sometimes the problem isn’t that nobody is willing to handle the estate.
The problem is that too many people want control, and they don’t trust one another.
A neutral administrator can potentially remove some of the personal dynamics from the administration, although professional administration may also involve additional costs.
Administrator vs. Executor: What’s the Difference?
These terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but there is an important distinction.
An executor is generally the person nominated in a valid will to carry out the estate administration.
An administrator is generally appointed by the probate court when an executor isn’t available, including when someone dies without a will.
Both may be considered personal representatives and perform many similar estate-administration duties.
But the way they get the job can be very different.
With a will:
You nominate the person you trust.
Without a will:
Georgia law and the probate process determine who receives authority.
That is one of the less-discussed reasons for creating a will.
What Does an Administrator Actually Do?
Being appointed administrator isn’t simply an honorary family position.
It can involve significant work and legal responsibilities.
Depending on the estate, an administrator may need to locate and secure assets, determine what belongs to the probate estate, address debts and creditor claims, maintain property, deal with financial institutions, handle tax issues, keep records, and ultimately distribute assets according to law.
Suppose the estate contains a house.
Someone may need to:
- Maintain insurance
- Secure the property
- Pay necessary expenses
- Address the mortgage
- Arrange repairs
- Determine whether the home should be sold
- Deal with personal property inside it
- Eventually transfer or distribute the property appropriately
Now add bank accounts, vehicles, investments, business interests, debts, and several heirs.
The job can become substantial quickly.
Does the Administrator Get to Decide Who Inherits?
No.
This is a critical distinction.
Being administrator does not mean someone gets to decide:
“I think Mom would have wanted me to give the house to my sister.”
When a Georgia resident dies intestate, Georgia’s inheritance laws determine the heirs to the intestate probate estate.
The administrator’s role is to administer the estate according to applicable law, not create a new inheritance plan after the person’s death.
This means two separate questions have to be answered:
Who inherits?
and
Who administers the estate?
They are related, but they are not interchangeable.
Does Being Administrator Mean You Own the Estate?
No.
Control and ownership are different concepts.
An administrator may receive legal authority to manage estate assets, but that does not make those assets the administrator’s personal property.
Estate money should not simply be mixed into someone’s personal bank account or treated as personal funds.
The administrator acts in a fiduciary capacity and must administer the estate according to applicable legal duties.
This distinction becomes particularly important when the administrator is also one of the heirs.
That person may eventually inherit a share of the estate, but while administering it, they are handling property on behalf of the estate.
Can an Administrator Sell Estate Property?
Potentially, depending on the administrator’s authority, the type of property involved, applicable probate requirements, and the circumstances of the estate.
This can become a major source of disagreement.
Imagine three siblings inherit their parent’s house.
One wants to keep it.
Another wants to sell immediately.
The third believes it should be rented.
The administrator cannot simply treat the property as if it personally belongs to them.
The administrator must operate within the authority granted and the requirements of Georgia probate law.
Families dealing with significant real estate or disputed assets should get guidance specific to the estate before taking action.
What if the Person Who Wants to Be Administrator Was Estranged From the Deceased?
Estrangement can make probate emotionally complicated.
Someone might say:
“They hadn’t spoken in ten years. Why should that person be in charge?”
But emotional closeness and legal status aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Probate law considers legal relationships, statutory priorities, eligibility, court findings, and other relevant circumstances.
A person who had limited contact with the deceased may still be an heir.
Conversely, a close friend who cared for the deceased every day may not have the same statutory inheritance or appointment priority as a legal relative.
The Chase dispute illustrates why this distinction can become uncomfortable. Recent filings contain competing claims about Chase’s relationships with family members and who should administer her estate.
Rather than relying on assumptions about who “deserves” control, courts apply the governing law.
What if Nobody Wants to Administer the Estate?
Not every probate dispute involves relatives fighting for control.
Sometimes the opposite happens.
The heirs may live far away.
Nobody may have the time or ability to administer the estate.
Family members may believe the estate is too complicated.
There may be substantial debts or difficult property.
Georgia’s statutory appointment structure contemplates situations in which someone beyond the immediate family may ultimately serve, including other eligible persons, creditors, and the county administrator in the order specified by law.
An estate does not cease needing administration simply because relatives do not want the responsibility.
Why Naming an Executor Before Death Matters
Most people think a will answers one question:
Who gets my property?
But a well-prepared will also allows you to nominate the person you want to handle your estate.
That choice can be enormously valuable.
You can consider who is:
- Organized
- Financially responsible
- Trustworthy
- Able to communicate
- Comfortable handling paperwork
- Capable of dealing with family members
- Likely to follow your instructions
You can also typically nominate a backup in case your first choice cannot serve.
Without that planning, your family may have to determine who should take responsibility after you are already gone.
And if they disagree, the probate court may have to resolve it.
Choosing an Executor Is Different From Choosing a Beneficiary
The person you love most isn’t necessarily the best executor.
Suppose you have two adult children.
One is wonderful with people but hates paperwork.
The other manages financial projects professionally and is comfortable dealing with deadlines, banks, attorneys, and tax professionals.
You may love them equally while deciding that one is better suited to administer your estate.
Similarly, you do not necessarily need to give someone a larger inheritance because you nominate them as executor.
Think about the roles separately:
Who should benefit from my estate?
Who is best equipped to administer it?
Those questions can have different answers.
What if Your First Choice Cannot Serve?
Life changes.
The person you name as executor today could die before you, become incapacitated, move away, or simply be unable or unwilling to serve when the time comes.
That is why estate plans often name successor or alternate fiduciaries.
For example:
First choice: spouse
Backup: sibling
Second backup: adult child or another trusted person
The appropriate structure depends on the family.
But having a backup can reduce uncertainty if your first choice isn’t available.
A Will Doesn’t Necessarily Eliminate Probate
Naming an executor in a will does not automatically mean your estate avoids probate.
That is another misconception.
A will generally provides instructions for probate property and nominates the person who should administer the estate.
Whether probate is required depends on the assets and circumstances involved.
Trusts, beneficiary designations, joint ownership arrangements, and other planning tools may affect which assets pass through probate.
The goal isn’t necessarily to “avoid probate at all costs.”
It is to understand how your assets will transfer and make intentional choices before those decisions become someone else’s problem.
Learn more about planning options through Hurban Law’s Estate Planning services.
What Happens After Someone Dies Without a Will in Georgia?
The exact process depends on the estate, but a family may need to determine whether probate administration is necessary and petition the appropriate Georgia probate court for authority.
The administrator may then need to identify assets and debts, address estate obligations, and eventually distribute the remaining property to the legal heirs.
When disagreements or unusual assets are involved, the process can become more complicated.
Hurban Law’s Probate services provide additional information about Georgia probate and estate administration.
Daveigh Chase’s Estate Shows That Estate Size Isn’t the Only Issue
Another interesting part of the Chase story is the reported value of the estate.
This isn’t a dispute over a $100 million celebrity fortune.
Probate filings reportedly estimate her estate at approximately $400,000.
Yet questions about who should administer it have already resulted in competing filings and allegations.
That’s useful perspective for ordinary families.
Probate complications aren’t reserved for extremely wealthy people.
A Georgia estate might consist primarily of:
- A $350,000 house
- A vehicle
- $40,000 in savings
- Personal property
That could easily create an estate of comparable size.
Family relationships and unclear planning can sometimes matter as much as the dollar amount.
What Georgia Families Can Learn From the Daveigh Chase Estate
Chase’s case is taking place in California, and the allegations involving her family are specific to that proceeding.
Georgia families should not assume a Georgia probate court would reach the same result.
But the situation illustrates several broader lessons.
First, dying without a will doesn’t eliminate the need for someone to take charge.
An estate still needs administration.
Second, relatives may disagree over who that person should be.
When there is no nominated executor, the issue may need to be resolved through statutory procedures and the probate court.
Third, the person administering an estate has real responsibilities.
This isn’t simply a title awarded to the closest family member.
Fourth, estate disputes aren’t limited to wealthy families.
An ordinary house and financial accounts can be enough to make administration important.
Finally, you can make your preference known while you’re alive.
Creating a will gives you the opportunity to nominate the person you trust rather than leaving that decision entirely for your heirs and the probate process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who becomes administrator if there is no will in Georgia?
Georgia law allows the heirs of an intestate decedent to unanimously select an administrator in qualifying circumstances. If they do not unanimously agree, the probate court makes the appointment in the best interests of the estate while considering the order of preference in O.C.G.A. § 53-6-20.
Does the oldest child automatically become administrator?
No. Georgia law does not simply provide that the oldest child automatically controls an intestate estate. The administrator must be properly selected or appointed under the applicable probate rules.
Can siblings choose which sibling administers the estate?
Potentially. If the siblings are the heirs and the statutory requirements are satisfied, unanimous selection may be possible. When the heirs cannot agree, the probate court can make the appointment.
Can a family member object to someone becoming administrator?
Disputes over an appointment can arise, and interested parties may have legal options depending on the circumstances. The probate court ultimately applies Georgia law in deciding the appointment.
Can someone who isn’t an heir administer an estate?
Potentially. O.C.G.A. § 53-6-20 includes other eligible persons within the statutory preference structure when an administrator has not been unanimously selected by the heirs.
Is an administrator the same as an executor?
They perform many similar estate-administration functions, but an executor is generally nominated under a will, while an administrator is generally appointed through the probate process when an executor is not available, including when there is no will.
Does the administrator inherit the estate?
Not merely because they are administrator. The right to inherit and the authority to administer the estate are separate legal questions.
Can an administrator decide how to divide an estate?
An administrator cannot simply create their own inheritance plan. If someone dies intestate, the administrator generally distributes the intestate estate according to Georgia inheritance law after proper administration of the estate.
Final Thoughts
The Daveigh Chase estate is receiving attention because the people involved disagree about who should be placed in charge.
But underneath the celebrity headline is a situation Georgia families can easily encounter.
Someone dies without a will.
There is property to manage.
There are relatives with different opinions.
And suddenly the first major estate question isn’t even who inherits.
It’s:
Who gets the authority to handle everything?
Georgia law provides a process for selecting or appointing an administrator when someone dies intestate. But creating an estate plan gives you the opportunity to make your own preference known before a crisis occurs.
Choosing an executor is not a minor box to check on a will. It means deciding whom you trust to handle your property, finances, obligations, and instructions when you are no longer able to do so yourself.
If someone in your family has died without a will, or if you want to make sure your own estate plan clearly identifies the people you trust, Hurban Law can help you understand your options under Georgia law.
