Jackie is based in Los Angeles, and loves to bike, swim and play with stickers. Consider a homeowner who, in January, writes a $1,000 check to a landscaping business for removal of a fallen tree and other debris after a storm. If the landscaper doesn’t deposit the check until September, the homeowner may not have been budgeting for that $1,000 payment eight months later. Expiration dates and other issues regarding check use are governed by the UCC—that’s a set of laws that regulate commercial transactions in the U.S. If you’re wondering how long certain checks are good for—and what to do with an expired check—here’s what you need to know. Some checks are good for about 6 months, and others may never expire.
How long is a check good for if not cashed?
You’ll want to check the particular rules of that state or local government. Because UCC guidelines on the timing of holds don’t apply to certified checks, certified checks don’t usually expire. That being said, they might be subject to state unclaimed property laws. Our research is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of personal finance services and products that best suit your needs. To help you in the decision-making process, our expert contributors compare common preferences and potential pain points, such as affordability, accessibility, and credibility. The simplest way to avoid having an expired check is to deposit it right away.
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So here’s everything you need to know about check validity, expiration date, and how and where to do it. Cashing a check promptly ensures that you can access the funds without issues, such as the check bouncing or having it go stale. If you ever come across an old check, the best option might be to contact the issuing bank or the check’s issuer to determine its current status. Be considerate — call or text the payer to let them know your intent. Make sure to also double-check that they haven’t switched financial institutions or opened a new account.
By prioritizing timely deposits, you can maximize the benefits of personal checks and ensure a smooth financial transaction experience. Yes, checks can expire if they are not cashed within a certain timeframe. Personal, business, and payroll checks are typically valid for 6 months (180 days) from the date they are issued. However, the expiration rules can vary depending on the type of check. Treasury checks, for example, are usually valid for one year, while state or local government checks may follow state-specific expiration regulations, often ranging from 6 months to a year. If you are given a business or personal check, ensure you know the validity period.
- Ultimately, it may depend on the type of check involved, explained in detail below, and what the bank chooses to do.
- However, if you find a check that’s beyond its “sell by” date, contact the issuing bank and your bank to find out whether or not you can still use it.
- Unless writing on the check states otherwise, business checks, including paychecks, follow the same rules that apply to personal checks.
- A lost cashier’s check will require an indemnity bond before it can be replaced.
- If you do have an old check that is past its expiration date or you haven’t received a check in the time frame you expected, you might have options for getting the funds.
What Happens if You Don’t Cash a Check?
The California State Controller indicates wages can become unclaimed property one year after issue. Cashier’s checks should be cashed within three years, and money orders should be cashed within seven years before they become unclaimed property. Cashier’s checks can be complicated, and state law affects how long those payments are good for.
The homeowner’s bank might charge them a returned check fee, and the landscaper may be charged a fee by their own bank. The MarketWatch Guides team will explain how long you have to cash different types of checks and the options you might have if your check is expired. Santander Bank, for example, charges $0 a check, while at Bank of America, the fee is $12. Plus, the person who wrote the bounced check might be charged a nonsufficient funds fee. Banks are still allowed to process a stale check as long as the institution deems the funds are good. A Federal Reserve regulation says a bank doesn’t have to deposit a check if it has reason to doubt that it’ll be able to collect the money from the paying bank.
Give the check writer a heads-up
It does not, and should not be construed as, an offer, invitation or solicitation of services to individuals outside of the United States. A background check’s expiration largely depends on the type of information it contains and its relevance to the individual’s current status. While background checks themselves do not technically “expire,” certain components within them may become outdated or less relevant over time. Checks drafted to a specific recipient, known as a payee, over six months old are at risk of not being cashable.
Firstly, you can contact the issuer and request a replacement check. This allows you to receive a valid check to deposit or cash. Additionally, you can consider alternative payment methods, such as electronic fund transfers or online payment platforms.
You can call or contact the drawer before the check expires (180 days) and have them instruct the bank to extend the date on the check. This is in case you can’t make the withdrawal before the check expires. So a good rule of thumb is to cash it within six months or contact the bank or the drawer if you can’t make it in time.
- Be considerate — call or text the payer to let them know your intent.
- But it may help to keep in mind that if there aren’t enough funds to cover the check, you could run into issues with a bounced check and related fees.
- The MarketWatch Guides team will explain how long you have to cash different types of checks and the options you might have if your check is expired.
- So, check validity will remain as long as a bank is willing to accept the check as valid and it doesn’t bounce.
- If you find an old traveler’s check, you can always cash it in with the issuer or spend it wherever it’s accepted.
Stale checks are uncashed or undeposited checks that are too old to be processed by credit unions, banks, and other similar institutions. Stale checks are also known as expired checks or stale-dated checks. The length of time that checks are considered valid can vary from one state to another. Most checks are valid for six months (180 days), although exceptions exist.
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Checks become outdated mainly as a way to protect the account holder. Typically, when individuals write checks, they have their current balance in mind and expect the funds to be withdrawn within a short span of time. Once you discover an uncashed check, also known as an outdated or stale check, should you cash it? That can be a tricky question because of the confusion surrounding the shelf life of a check.
When a check is postdated, you can cash the check on or after the date specified. Checks have a limited lifespan to avoid these types of financial issues. We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. One exception is with money orders issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS)3. USPS money orders never expire and can always be used, regardless of the date on which they were issued. Remember, each bank has its own policy and can use its own discretion when helping you resolve this matter.
Legally, banks generally will make $225 of a personal check you’ve deposited available the next business day (unless the account has been open for less than 30 days). If you deposit a check worth more than $225, how long is a personal check good for $225 might clear the next business day and the rest the business day after. Money orders depend on issuer and state regulations, with some charging fees after 1-3 years. Traveler’s checks, on the other hand, do not have expiration dates as long as the issuing bank is still in operation.
The person that wrote the check might close the account by the time you decide to cash it in. Whether they decided to switch banks or decided that a new account was needed, the old one will be closed – which means that the check will likely bounce. After those 6 months pass, you may have a hard time trying to cash that check – but under certain circumstances, you may still get them to cash that check for you. Some checks say that they go void after 90 days, so you need to be extra careful about which check you are receiving.
Eventually, the person or business that the check is from might switch banks. If you deposit a check from a closed account, the check will bounce, and your bank may charge you fees for depositing a bad check. Even as personal checks become a less common form of payment, they remain a crucial financial tool that every consumer needs to understand how to use properly. A certified check is a personal check that’s been certified by the bank. Because they’re certified, they’re considered a more secure form of payment and are often used for big-ticket purchases, such as buying a car or house.