How Long Can a Check Be Cashed Before It Expires?

Checks remain a common method for exchanging funds, whether for personal transactions, business payroll, or government disbursements. Understanding a check’s validity period is important for both the recipient and the issuer. Checks do not remain valid indefinitely, and their ability to be cashed or deposited diminishes over time. Expiration varies based on the check type and financial institution policies, making general guidelines important.

Time Limits for Personal and Business Checks

Most personal and business checks have a standard validity period. These checks are considered valid for six months, or 180 days, from the date they were issued. This timeframe is based on the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which provides a framework for commercial transactions across the United States. Under the UCC, banks are not legally obligated to honor a check presented more than six months after its date.

However, a bank retains the discretion to honor such a check, even after this six-month period has passed. If a check is presented within this standard timeframe and sufficient funds are available, the bank is expected to honor the payment. While some businesses may print “void after 90 days” on their checks, banks often still honor these for up to 180 days, as the pre-printed language is primarily meant to encourage prompt deposit.

Rules for Other Check Types

Certain types of checks operate under different validity rules. Certified checks, for instance, generally do not “expire” in the same way personal checks do, as the issuing bank guarantees the funds. The funds for a certified check are set aside by the bank at issuance, ensuring their availability. Despite this, some banks might have internal policies that consider old certified checks as “stale” after a period, but the funds remain available from the issuing bank.

Cashier’s checks, drawn on the bank’s own funds, often lack a strict expiration date, though some may indicate a “void by” date. The expiration of cashier’s checks can vary by the issuing financial institution and local laws. For government-issued checks, such as U.S. Treasury checks, the validity period is one year from the issue date. State and local government checks have validity periods ranging from six months to a year, depending on the specific jurisdiction’s laws. If a government check expires, the payee is still entitled to the funds and can request a replacement from the issuing agency.

Understanding Stale-Dated Checks

A check becomes “stale-dated” when presented for payment after its validity period. Banks are not legally required to honor a stale-dated check but retain the option to do so at their discretion. This can occur if the account has sufficient funds and no other concerns exist.

Attempting to deposit a stale-dated check carries risks for the recipient. The bank may reject the check due to its age, or it could be returned unpaid if the issuing account has insufficient funds or has been closed. If a stale-dated check is returned, the person attempting the deposit may incur fees. It is advisable to contact the check issuer for a replacement if a check has become stale-dated.

Implications for the Check Writer

For the person who issued a check, understanding validity periods is important for sound financial management. The check writer is generally expected to keep sufficient funds in their account to cover the check until it is cashed. If funds are withdrawn and an old check is suddenly presented and honored by the bank, it could lead to an overdraft or insufficient funds, resulting in fees. This highlights the importance of monitoring outstanding checks.

Check writers have options if they believe a check will not be cashed or if it has been lost. They can issue a stop payment order through their bank. A written stop payment request is typically valid for six months, during which the bank will attempt to prevent payment. While a stop payment can prevent unwanted payments, the check writer may still be liable for the original obligation depending on the circumstances.