Dear Judy,
My friend’s husband recently died of cancer. During his illness, he made her his Power of Attorney as well as executor of his Will.
An insurance check came in after his death made out to both of them and her bank will not cash it! She will also get an income tax refund after a joint return. Is there something she needs to do to cash these checks?
Ilsa
Dear Ilsa,
Your friend first of all needs to obtain several copies of her husband’s death certificate (any funeral home she used can provide these, or hospital or hospice). She will also need copies of her Power of Attorney.
The income tax refund when it comes should be placed without any difficult in any joint account she and her late husband controlled, since that refund is made out to them both ( The insurance check should have been treated the same way — not cashed, but put in a joint account).
In the event the bank makes a fuss, ideally the death certificate and POA should solve the problem. If that doesn’t help she needs to consult an attorney.
Thanks for writing
Judy
