If there are recurring benefit payments from Treasury (Social Security, VA, Federal Retirement (CSA), Military retirement, etc.) with his name on them, you should not wait to get a death certificate. You have knowledge of his death, and you must return any of those payments received after the date of death.
You should also not accept for deposit to that account any checks payable to him. Those funds belong to his estate, not to the current owner of the account.
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John S. Burnett
BankersOnline.com
Fighting for Compliance since 1976
Bankers' Threads User #8