Whenever any qualified recipient or beneficiary of old-age assistance, aid to the blind, or aid to the permanently and totally disabled, or of other relief or welfare, under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, shall have died after the issuance of assistance checks or vouchers to him, or on or after the due date of said checks or vouchers and before the same is endorsed or presented for payment by the recipient or beneficiary, the judge of the district court of the county in which said recipient resided at the time of his death shall by the filing of an affidavit by one of the next of kin or next friend of said deceased recipient make an order authorizing and directing such next of kin or next friend, or some other reputable person, to endorse said checks or vouchers which shall be paid upon presentation, and it shall not be necessary that an administrator be appointed for the estate of said decedent in order to collect said checks or vouchers. No costs shall be charged in said proceedings. This act¹ shall apply to checks and vouchers heretofore issued as well as to those hereafter issued.