Can a check dated prior to one's death, be deposited after death into that person's normal account before it is closed and the funds moved to the estate account?
Under what I sometimes refer to as the "no harm, no foul" rule, if the funds ultimately end up in the estate it may not matter whether the check is deposited first to the account of the decedent. However, there are some checks that aren't valid if cashed after a payee's death. One example would be an insurance annuity payment or a check drawn on the U.S. Treasury (for recurring payments such as Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits). If the facts become known, the remitter could insist on getting its money back. The best tactic is to take the check to the remitter or paying agency, provide evidence of the payee's death, and find out if the check can be reissued.
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Under what I sometimes refer to as the "no harm, no foul" rule, if the funds ultimately end up in the estate it may not matter whether the check is deposited first to the account of the decedent. However, there are some checks that aren't valid if cashed after a payee's death. One example would be an insurance annuity payment or a check drawn on the U.S. Treasury (for recurring payments such as Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits). If the facts become known, the remitter could insist on getting its money back. The best tactic is to take the check to the remitter or paying agency, provide evidence of the payee's death, and find out if the check can be reissued.
