My wife received a check from her mothers insurance company when her mother passed away. Her mothers beneficiary was my wife's father who pa...

Question

My wife received a check from her mothers insurance company when her mother passed away. Her mothers beneficiary was my wife's father who passed away 6 months before. So, when my wife received the letter it was made to my wife's mothers estate. Since it was addressed to my wife is it ok to deposit this check in my wife's bank account?

Answer

You are asking if it is OK for your wife to steal money that belongs to the estate of her mother? Really?

Answer

That would be insurance fraud and criminal theft. Of course not. Whomever is appointed by the probate court to adminster the estate can deposit it in the estate account, and what happens to it after that depends on whether there was a will or not, whether there are creditos, and whom the other heirs are.