:confused: My wife and I received an Estate check after her mother died; that just happens to be made out to her mothers estate. Was wondering about opening an account or depositing the check? Her mother did not leave a will...

All of the mother's property (cars, boats, furniture, home, bank accounts), depending on how it is titled, goes into her estate. Her heirs are her children. Your wife will need to find out the value of the estate. Whether your wife needs to file to administer the estate depends upon the law of the state her mother resided in.

I need to know how to set up an estate account for my dad who passed away. I am the executor of his trust.

You get a EIN number ( check out IRS web site) for the estate. You take this and proof that you are the executor of the estate to the bank, and open the bank account.