Section 4–405. (a) A payor or collecting bank's authority to accept, pay, or collect an item or to account for proceeds of its collection, if otherwise effective, is not rendered ineffective by incompetence of a customer of either bank existing at the time the item is issued or its collection is undertaken if the bank does not know of an adjudication of incompetence. Neither death nor incompetence of a customer revokes the authority to accept, pay, collect, or account until the bank knows of the fact of death or of an adjudication of incompetence and has reasonable opportunity to act on it.
(b) Even with knowledge, a bank may for ten days after the date of death pay or certify checks drawn on or before that date unless ordered to stop payment by a person claiming an interest in the account.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XV - Regulation of Trade
Chapter 106 - Uniform Commercial Code
Article 4 - Bank Deposits and Collections
Section 4-213 - Medium and Time of Settlement by Bank
Section 4-214 - Right of Charge–back or Refund; Liability of Collecting Bank; Return of Item
Section 4-211 - When Bank Gives Value for Purposes of Holder in Due Course
Section 4-216 - Insolvency and Preference
Section 4-302 - Payor Bank's Responsibility for Late Return of Item
Section 4-407 - Payor Bank's Right to Subrogation on Improper Payment
Section 4-401 - When Bank May Charge Customer's Account
Section 4-404 - Bank Not Obliged to Pay Check More Than Six Months Old
Section 4-405 - Death or Incompetence of Customer
Section 4-406 - Customer's Duty to Discover and Report Unauthorized Signature or Alteration
Section 4-210 - Security Interest of Collecting Bank in Items, Accompanying Documents and Proceeds
Section 4-502 - Presentment of ''on Arrival'' Drafts
Section 4-209 - Encoding and Retention Warranties
Section 4-104 - Definitions and Index of Definitions
Section 4-207 - Transfer Warranties
Section 4-103 - Variation by Agreement; Measure of Damages; Action Constituting Ordinary Care
Section 4-106 - Payable Through or Payable at Bank; Collecting Bank
Section 4-107 - Separate Office of Bank
Section 4-108 - Time of Receipt of Items
Section 4-110 - Electronic Presentment
Section 4-111 - Statute of Limitations
Section 4-202 - Responsibility for Collection or Return; When Action Timely
Section 4-203 - Effect of Instructions
Section 4-204 - Methods of Sending and Presenting; Sending Direct to Payor Bank
Section 4-205 - Depositary Bank Holder of Unindorsed Item
Section 4-206 - Transfer Between Banks
Section 4-208 - Presentment Warranties
Section 4-504 - Privilege of Presenting Bank to Deal With Goods; Security Interest for Expenses
Section 4-403 - Customer's Right to Stop Payment; Burden of Proof of Loss