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Home >> Special Situations >> Deceased Individuals
Who is the Beneficiary?
My brother recently passed away and possibly left me as his beneficiary. How do I find out? If I am, how do I go about cashing his payroll checks that I have?
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 If your brother named you as beneficiary on life insurance policies or bank accounts, you'll need to identify the companies or banks involved, be prepared to document your identity, have original (embossed) copies of his death certificate, and then contact the companies and banks to ask. If you meant to suggest that he may have named you as the executor of his will, you'll need to find the original will (home files, a home safe, a safe deposit box or your brother's attorney are all places you might look). If you think the will is in a safe deposit box, you'll have to contact the bank and ask about their procedures for a will search. That will also require a copy of the death certificate and your ID.
Only the executor or administrator (sometimes referred to as the "personal representative") of your brother's estate has a legal interest in the paychecks. The personal representative can endorse and deposit the checks to an account for your brother's estate. The personal representative is appointed by the probate court. If there is a will, the court may approve the executor nominated in the will. If there is no will, the court may appoint an administrator.
Published on BankingQuestions.com 12/11/07
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