APPLICANTS FOR AUTHORIZATIONS.

The party to whom the warrant or check will be authorized payable upon indorsement in the usual manner is

1. In case of death or incompetency, the one entitled thereto under the laws of the domicile of the State of the deceased, in the absence of a Federal statute of distribution applying to the particular case, or the one entitled pursuant to such Federal statute if there be one.

2. In case of error in name or designation, the payee by correct name or designation.

EVIDENCE FOR AUTHORIZATIONS.

The evidence necessary to be furnished for authorizations for payment to parties entitled to proceeds of warrants or checks the payees of which are deceased, incompetent, or erroneously named or designated, is as follows:

DECEASED PAYEES.

1. If there has been or will be administration upon the estate of the deceased payee, a short certificate of letters testamentary or of administration, if issued, with a showing whether still in force, with request for authorization for payment to the administrator or executor of the proceeds of the warrant or check.

2. If there has not been and otherwise will not be any probate action taken upon the estate of the deceased payee, and the amount be not over $500, an application by the party in interest for the proceeds of the warrant or check, showing who would be entitled to the proceeds in the event of administration under the State statutes of the domicile of the deceased, or under the Federal statute if there be one, sworn to before an officer having a seal and authorized to administer oaths generally.

STATE STATUTES.

If the payment is to be authorized pursuant to the statutes of a State the applicant should state the facts necessary to establish a claim to the proceeds of the warrant or check under the statutes of said State relating to the estates of decedents, which facts in general are—

1. Whether payee died testate or intestate.

2. Whether payee left surviving a widow or husband.

3. Whether payee left surviving a child or children, or child of a deceased child, and if any are minors whether guardian appointed, giving names and addresses of all. 4. Whether payee left surviving a father or mother, giving names and addresses. 5. Whether payee left surviving a brother or sister, or child of a deceased brother or sister, giving names and addresses.

6. Whether anyone claims or has had the benefit of any exemption under the statute; if so, in what amount and in what capacity.

7. Whether funeral expenses of deceased payee have been paid; if so, by whom and out of what funds, whether funds of deceased or of payer, submitting receipted bill of undertaker to party making such payment.

8. Whether the expenses of last illness, other preferred claims, and debts of deceased payee have been paid.

9. Whether deceased payee left other assets, and, if so, amount and character thereof.

FEDERAL STATUTE.

If the payment is to be authorized pursuant to a Federal statute the application should be by the party entitled to the proceeds in the order named in the statute and accompanied by the evidence the statute requires for the establishment of a claim thereunder, the terms of the statute being strictly complied with.

BLANKS.

Blanks for the applications for authorizations without administration mentioned in paragraph 2 may be obtained from this office.

INCOMPETENT PAYEES.

A short certificate showing the appointment and qualification of a guardian or committee of the estate of the incompetent payee, whether bond if required has been given, and whether appointment is still in force.

ERRONEOUSLY NAMED OR DESIGNATED PAYEES.

Such evidence as will satisfactorily establish the correct name or designation of the payee for the purposes of the payment as differentiated from the alleged erroneous one appearing on the face of the warrant or check.

PENSION AND CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT CHECKS.

Separate instructions have been issued as to pension and civil service retirement checks. See circular of Comptroller General No. 5, dated April 25, 1922.

INTEREST CHECKS.

These instructions do not apply to interest checks on the public debt.

POWERS OF ATTORNEY AND CERTIFICATES OF AUTHORITY TO INDORSE.

These instructions do not apply to powers of attorney to indorse warrants or checks, certificates of authority to officers of corporations to indorse on their behalf, affidavits of copartnership, or other evidence of authority to indorse on behalf of corporations, or firms, or individuals.

CIRCULAR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 21, 1922, TO HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND INDEPENDENT ESTABLISHMENTS.

This supersedes circular letter of February 21, 1922, to heads of departments and independent establishments relative to procedure for disposal of disbursing officers checks.

J. R. MCCARL,
Comptroller General.