If you’re an executor...
Handling the finances of an estate is one of an estate executor’s main responsibilities, and in most cases they’ll have an estate account through which all financial transactions related to the estate will flow. That way, the executor can write checks from the account and deposit checks into the account, later distributing the funds in accordance with the will. The executor can also deposit or legally endorse and cash a check made out to the deceased, although the bank will often require a grant of probate validating the executor’s role before allowing any financial transactions to take place. Some banks may also be hesitant about allowing executors to cash estate checks, since the flow of funds becomes less transparent.