A South Florida woman who was unable to cash a check for more than $8,000 from her late husband’s bank box says she finally has the money after turning to the 7News consumer series Help Me Howard.
Carmen Pierce lost her husband, William, in 2022 after nearly 40 years of marriage. He had died suddenly at their home, where she said she found him on the living room floor after hearing him gasp while she made dinner. Pierce said he managed the household bills and preferred to keep cash in a bank box rather than trust banks with it.
The bank issued a check for the box’s contents, about $8,400, but made it payable to her late husband. Pierce said she had tried to deposit it, and a court order had not been enough to get it cashed. She had also pawned jewelry to cover expenses.
Howard Finkelstein told Pierce she had taken the right step by filing with the court for summary administration, a faster route than probate. He said the bank needed to be reached by the right person. After 7News contacted the bank, a corporate office reached out to Pierce and resolved the matter two days later.
Finkelstein’s advice for other families: ask your bank to add a payable on death beneficiary to accounts and boxes, a quick step that passes the money to the named person.
