Learn how to go about cashing checks written before death or checks payable to deceased spouses. This is usually common in estate transactions or for travelers.
Therefore, this is the best article if you wish to know if an executor can cash an estate check for the deceased.
What is an Estate Check?
This is a check made to the estate beneficiaries. It is a type of check made to the decedent’s estate or a diseased individual. These kinds of checks must be deposited into an estate’s account.
In other words, as a beneficiary, one is required to open an estate account for one to deposit such kind of a check.
What is a Check Payable to the Deceased?
The cheque payable to the deceased is a check that is made out to an ailing individual. Such cheques are usually not deposited into the personal account even if you are the spouse or the beneficiary.
Individuals are instead advised to attract the check insurer and ask to be issued the check, but that is not the option at all times.
There is usually a legal framework that individuals are expected to follow so that they can successfully deposit such a kind of cheque.
It should be noted that, for that process to be a success, one is expected to have an estate account. Visit any bank and request to have such an account, and you will be assisted to open one.
Check Written Before Death
Several agency relationships usually come to closure when one party becomes incompetent or dies.
Nevertheless, there are special policies that direct financial institutions to honor paychecks written by clients who died or have become incompetent.
The executor of the estate is expected to be aware of this policy to efficiently conduct their executor responsibilities about handling the check written by the deceased.
The banks with the power to pay for checks written by clients before death will go on to have the mandate to pay them.
As soon as the bank discovers that its clients are incompetent or dead, it has a reasonable period to act upon the update swiftly. That usually means informing adequate internal bank departments.
Additionally, the banks are expected to pay for checks written before death and on the date of death of a client in the initial ten days following the date of demise even if the bank is conscious of the death of their client.
It is indeed required that the beneficial visit the bank for proper execution and payment of the checks written by clients before their demise.
Since there are numerous cases of fraud and falsehood, individuals are expected to carry important identification documentation to eliminate doubts amongst the bank agents and therefore, facilitate the process of check payment after the death of the client.
Deposit Check for Deceased Spouse
If your spouse has died and you have a check written by him or her that you need to deposit you should note the following. First, you should ensure that you are a valid beneficiary.
Confirm with the bank that you are the beneficiary because, at times, a deceased spouse may not write their spouse as their beneficially.
Secondly, ensure that you have opened an estate account. Note that you will not be allowed to deposit a check for the deceased into a personal account.
Kindly, visit our nearest bank for more details about the opening and operation of the estate account.
Finally, after you have deposited the check, you are expected to wait for ten days before you could receive the money.
Remember, the process may be so sensitive and tiresome. Therefore, you will be expected to cooperate with the bank fully.
Can an executor Cash an Estate Check?
Yes, part of the executor’s responsibility is managing and locating estate assets. This involves monies owned by the deceased for which a check is obtained.
As the permissible representative of the estate, the executor has a mandate and a right to approve the estate check.
Usually, the estate checks are not cashed but rather deposited into an estate’s account and thus become part of the pool of money applicable to paying the debts and beneficiaries.
From this, it is apparent that the executor has a huge role in actualizing the depositing of the estate checks for the deceased.
How to Cash Traveler’s Checks of a Deceased Person
Redeem a deceased individual’s unused traveler’s checks if you are the executor of the estate. Or, you can do it if you are the beneficiary or the spouse. The process of doing this is quite simple.
First of all, visit your nearest estate’s financial institution. During this time, you are expected to inquire if the bank is offering the services you require.
Secondly, make sure you have carried the death certificate, traveler’s checks, and papers indicating the beneficiary or the executor to the estate’s account.
Lastly, once you have presented all these documents, wait for processing, and the agent will inform you of the bank once the process is complete.
Remember, this is a sensitive exercise, and therefore, you are expected to work closely with the bank agents if you want to complete it quickly.
Estate Check FAQs
The following are the frequently asked questions.
Can you cash a check made out to an estate?
Yes, you can cash under special circumstances. However, that is not always guaranteed because different banks have different rules and regulations regarding the cashing of estate checks.
Cashing an estate check without probate
Technically, you are expected to go to a probate court to be allowed to be an executor. However, you can cash the estate check without probate if you are indeed the genuine beneficiary.
Depositing an estate check into a personal account
You are not allowed to deposit an estate check into a personal account, even if you are the beneficiary. Regulations dictate that you open an estate account to be able to deposit such kind of a check.
Can I deposit an estate check into a joint account?
A large percentage of banks require that you deposit an estate check into an estate account, but there are some banks, which will allow you to deposit it into your joint account as long as the funds are dispersed correctly. Confirm with your bank on this, please.
References for Cashing checks payable to the deceased
- 1: How to Deposit Checks of Deceased Persons – Sapling
- 2: Are Banks Required to Pay a Check When a Customer Dies? – LegalMatch
- 3: Can an Executor of an Estate Cash a Check made out to the Deceased? – LegalBeagle
- 4: Can a named Executor deposit Checks into a Deceased Person’s Account – Avvo
READ MORE: Mobile check deposit limits at Bank of America.
