Duties of the Public Administrator may include any or all of the following:
Make appropriate arrangements for the interment of the deceased person
Protect the descendant's property from waste, loss, or theft
Conduct thorough investigations to discover all assets and debts
Search for next-of-kin, or locate all persons entitled to inherit from the estate
When appropriate, petition the court for appointment as administrator of the estate and follow through with all of the duties of probate as set forth in the California Probate Code