I have received life ins proceeds in the form of a check book. The checking account has my name and address on it just like a regular checking account.

I want to write a check and deposit it to my personal checking account. Do I make out the check to MYSELF - Cash - or the name of the bank? I will be endorsing it as "for deposit only".

Make it payable to yourself, endorse "For Deposit Only" but do not endorse with your signature on the back till you get to the bank and ready to deposit.

Also, be prepared for the bank to put a hold on the check if it is over $10,000. I ran into the exact same situation when my brother died in February. Due to the "anti-terrorist" act, deposits over $10,000 are held and normally released in 3 chunks over the same amount of weeks. I was told if I could prove the money was from a life insurance payment they would not hold it but I don't know if that is true for all banks.