A lawyer calls with news that a great aunt has passed away and left a vast estate to an heir she's never met. It seems like a cliché Hollywood hook, but it’s the kind of situation lawyer Joseph L. Michaud would oversee as Bristol County’s newly-appointed public administrator.

Michaud — a Dartmouth resident, lawyer, and former Select Board chairman — was sworn into a five-year term in December by Governor Charlie Baker. As public administrator, Michaud’s job includes overseeing the collection and distribution of assets – real estate, bank accounts, and other property – belonging to Bristol County residents who pass away without a will or a clear heir.

“It’s very interesting work, not only dealing with the probate court and distributing assets, but there’s a lot of detective work that goes along with it. It’s a lot like putting together a puzzle," Michaud said.

The process works like this: Michaud is first notified of a recently deceased person without a will or heirs. He said these calls commonly come from nursing homes, elder services groups, and others who work with the elderly.

“Some think it’s a rare thing, but it’s a lot more common than you would think,” Michaud said.

Then, he’s responsible for inventorying and securing their assets. That involves scouring bank accounts — which can be complicated for those with multiple accounts and little documentation, real estate, and other personal and financial property. Funds are secured until a heir can be found.

That begins what can sometimes be a long search into the recently deceased person’s personal life to find heirs. Sometimes, genealogy and DNA testing is employed to develop a list of remaining blood relatives who need to be tracked down.

Complex cases can stretch across continents. Michaud referenced a case handled by his predecessor, in which a Bristol County resident’s nearest living heir was found living in a village in Poland. Michaud himself has already handled cases where distant relatives have never met the deceased person, and are often surprised at the news that they are entitled to assets.

Probate has always been an interesting area of law for Michaud. He recalls learning under James Henry — considered a leading expert in probate in the region — at the beginning of his now 25-year career. He started his own law firm in 1993.

“It’s an important position because if someone dies under these circumstances, no one knows what happens to their assets,” Michaud said.

Michaud will continue to run his law firm in New Bedford in addition to his duties as public administrator.