How Long Can You Have a Check Before It Expires?
How long is a check valid? Learn about expiration dates for various check types and what to do if yours has expired.
Checks serve as a common method of payment, but they are not valid indefinitely. Understanding the limited lifespan of a check is important for both the person writing it and the person receiving it. The validity period for a check can vary depending on its type and the policies governing it.
Standard Check Validity Periods
Most personal and business checks have a standard validity period of six months, or 180 days, from the date they are issued. This timeframe is widely recognized and is often based on the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Section 4-404. Under this provision, banks are typically not obligated to honor checks presented more than six months after their date. While banks are not legally required to pay checks older than 180 days, they may still choose to do so at their discretion. Some checks might explicitly state a shorter “void after” period, such as “void after 90 days.” However, banks usually honor these checks for the full 180-day period, as the shorter notice is often a reminder to deposit promptly rather than a strict expiration.
Validity of Specific Check Types
Not all checks adhere to the standard six-month validity period. Cashier’s checks and certified checks are guaranteed by the issuing bank. While some may not have a printed expiration date, their validity can depend on the issuing bank’s policies, sometimes becoming “stale” after 60 to 180 days. Certified checks, though often without a fixed expiration, can become subject to state unclaimed property laws if uncashed for an extended period.
Money orders also typically do not have a set expiration date. However, institutions that issue money orders may begin charging service fees if the money order remains uncashed for a certain period, usually between one and three years. These fees can reduce the money order’s principal value over time. United States Postal Service (USPS) money orders are a notable exception, as they generally do not expire and do not accrue fees.
Government-issued checks, such as those from the U.S. Treasury for tax refunds or Social Security benefits, usually have a validity period of one year from their issue date. Checks issued by state and local government agencies may have varying expiration policies, typically ranging from six months to a year, depending on the specific jurisdiction. Even if a government check expires, the recipient is generally still entitled to the funds and can request a replacement from the issuing agency.
Consequences of an Expired Check
When a check passes its expiration date, it becomes a “stale-dated check.” While a bank is not required to honor a stale-dated check under the UCC, it is not automatically invalid. The bank has the discretion to either pay it or return it unpaid. Banks may choose to honor a stale check, particularly if the account has sufficient funds and no stop payment order has been placed.
If a bank decides to pay a stale-dated check, the funds will be debited from the issuer’s account. Conversely, if the bank refuses to honor the check, the recipient will not receive the funds and the check will be returned unpaid. Attempting to deposit a stale-dated check without prior communication could also result in fees charged by the recipient’s bank for a returned item.
Furthermore, the issuer’s account might not have sufficient funds to cover an old check, or the account might have been closed. In such cases, the check could bounce, leading to non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees for the issuer and potentially returned item fees for the recipient.
What to Do With an Expired Check
If you find yourself holding an expired or stale-dated check, contact the check issuer. The issuer may need to confirm that the original check was not cashed and could consider issuing a stop payment on the old check before writing a new one.
Issuers should also regularly reconcile their bank statements to identify any outstanding checks that have not been presented for payment. If a check becomes stale-dated and remains uncashed, the funds remain in the issuer’s account until a new check is issued or the funds are eventually subject to state unclaimed property laws. These laws require uncashed funds to be turned over to the state after a specified dormancy period, which is commonly between three and five years.
For recipients, depositing or cashing checks promptly upon receipt helps avoid these expiration issues altogether. Timely action minimizes the risk of a check becoming stale-dated and streamlines the payment process for all parties involved. If a check is approaching its expiration date, it is prudent to deposit it as soon as possible or communicate with the issuer.