Found some cheques payable to my late father-in-law. Can they be cashed?

What_time_is_it

Hi there.
I think I probably already know the answer, but is there any way that old cheques written out to someone who is deceased can be paid into a bank account?

We found them when going through some old paperwork at the in-laws house. He passed away nearly 7 years ago and his wife, my mother-in-law, has recently passed away too. They are mostly share dividend payments plus a refund from an overpaid insurance policy. Some of them date back around 10-15 years but were still in sealed envelopes. Total value of around £1k.

There is also a bank account in France which is still open and in his name. Not sure if this makes any difference? Obviously we are also looked to close this soon too as there is around £2k in that, and that may also be problematic.

Anyone know a way around this? Or should we just bin the cheques?

wmb194

What_time_is_it said:

Hi there.
I think I probably already know the answer, but is there any way that old cheques written out to someone who is deceased can be paid into a bank account?

We found them when going through some old paperwork at the in-laws house. He passed away nearly 7 years ago and his wife, my mother-in-law, has recently passed away too. They are mostly share dividend payments plus a refund from an overpaid insurance policy. Some of them date back around 10-15 years but were still in sealed envelopes. Total value of around £1k.

There is also a bank account in France which is still open and in his name. Not sure if this makes any difference? Obviously we are also looked to close this soon too as there is around £2k in that, and that may also be problematic.

Anyone know a way around this? Or should we just bin the cheques?

No chance. The executor needs to contact the issuers and the French bank. Assuming they weren't claimed when the estate was wound up, IIRC dividends aren't usually forfeited back to the company for c.12 years so the registrars should still have some of them. 

What_time_is_it

If the executor contacts the issuers of the cheques, there is a way then?
So we shouldn't bin them just yet?

kazwookie

I would contact the bank and ask, also contact the firms the cheques were from and ask if they can be reissue and explain why, the worse answer will be no.   But you never know until you asl.   Ask for the bereavement team.

What_time_is_it

Thanks. That sounds like sensible advice.

wmb194

What_time_is_it said:

If the executor contacts the issuers of the cheques, there is a way then?
So we shouldn't bin them just yet?

Yes, possibly, but like I wrote, it depends on what has happened in the past i.e. they may have already been claimed when the estate was wound up.

There's no harm holding on to them for the moment as evidence of a company name and (prior) shareholding but no bank will accept them, they're far too long out of date.