How can a check made out to the decedent's estate be cashed?

A check made payable to the estate of a deceased person can be a problem. Legally, it must be cashed by the court appointed estate representative, i.e., the executor or administrator. If there is no other property owned by the decedent and no probate was filed, and if the decedent owned a joint bank account with another person, the bank may allow the check to be deposited in that account. However, if that doesn't work then a probate will need to be filed to establish the identity of the person who can legally cash the check.