I am finally getting a check for $30,000 from my husband’s personal injury accident. Can I cash this estate check or do I have to open a bank account.

It really depends.  Are there other distributees to his estate, e.g. children?  If this was a wrongful death accident there should have been a Compromise Order signed by the Judge (either Supreme Court or Surrogate's Court) which allocates the settlement proceeds among all the distributees.  If you are the sole distributee then you can cash the check like any other check.  Given the sum, however, a bank might not let you cash all of it and instead make you open an account into which you can then deposit the check. Hope this helps. Best regards, Jonathan R. Ratchik, Esq. Kramer, Dunleavy & Ratchik, PLLC 61 Broadway, Suite 2220 New York, NY  10006 (212) 226-6662 http://kdrpilawyers.com/