Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania

checking account of deceased
How does a bank receive notification of an individual's death prior to public notice such as a death certificate and/or an obituary in a newspaper? Can a bank that has frozen assets until probate of a will not honor checks that were written out by the deceased prior to death to pay the deceased bills? My stepfather passed away on Thursday. My mother was notified Friday that my stepfather's assets were frozen. (This is prior to public notification in a newspaper or a filed death certificate) She was also told that all outstanding checks written by my stepfather to pay bills such as the mortgage would come back to the bank and would not be paid. This does not seem correct. How can a bank decide to not honor checks that were clearly written prior to death but had not been cashed by the recipients?

Asked on 10/15/07, 8:01 pm

Glenn Brown Real World Law, P.C.

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0 attorneys agreed

Re: checking account of deceased

Sounds like someone in your stepfather's family may have requested the bank freeze the account.

I trust your mother has retained a lawyer to assist her.

Services at a reasonable fee.

Good luck to you.

Answered on 10/16/07, 10:19 pm

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