What classification applies to a person who manages an estate where there is no valid will?

The classification that applies to a person who manages an estate where there is no valid will is known as an administrator. An administrator is appointed by the court to oversee the estate of someone who has died intestate, meaning without leaving a valid will. This individual is responsible for managing the deceased's assets, settling debts, and distributing any remaining property according to the statutory succession laws of the state.

In cases where there is a valid will, an executor is typically named in the document to perform similar duties. However, since this question specifically mentions the absence of a valid will, the role of executor does not apply here. Heirs are individuals who stand to inherit from the estate but they do not manage it, and beneficiaries are those who benefit from a will or trust arrangement, which again does not fit the scenario described. Thus, the administrator is the correct classification in situations where there is no will in place.