Bank checks are an easy option to make and receive payments when you don’t have cash available. While the various kinds of checks have their fixed expiration date, it is always advised that you cash a check as soon as you receive it to avoid meeting an empty account when you go to cash it and have your check labeled as a Bounced Check. Let’s know more about the topic do checks expire?
If you are given a check and you didn’t use it or lost it only to find it when it has expired, you may be tempted to go ahead and cash it. Would you be able to cash an expired check? What do you do when your check expires? Do checks expire at all? Find out these and more in this article.
Well, yes, bank checks do expire after a while if it is not cashed and may not be cashed anymore. The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) which is a set of laws on checks states that checks are not to be accepted after six months but can still be cashed if the bank believes the funds to be good.
The average period a signed check can last is usually six months but some types of checks may have a shorter span depending on the issuer. Whichever way, it is best you cash a check immediately after you receive it to avoid it getting expired.
Can I Cash An Expired Check?
If you happen to have not cashed your check till it expires, not to worry, there might still be some hope for you. While it is a general rule by UCC not to accept expired checks, there is an exception to this.
The check can still be cash if the bank it was written to considers it a good fund. This means that you have a lot of convincing to do but this convincing will not involve you alone. At some point, you will be asked to bring the issuer of the check or provide his details to ascertain if the amount written in the check is still available in his account.
In all, it will prove to be more stressful than asking for a new check because even if the bank accepts it and the check bounces, you would still be asked to pay for the bounced check. And if the bank considers it a failed course, they will simply reject it and you’re back to square one.
What Should I Do When My Check Expires?
As a rule of thumb, try to cash checks immediately after they are signed. But in some cases where the check may have been lost and found after it has expired, you may want to take it to the bank. If they reject the check, then try any of these:
Contact The Issuer Of The Check: This is just the best option as he is the one to change the narrative no matter what. You can ask him to write you another check or pay you in any other way.
It is always the first thing to do if you lose your check or find it difficult to cash. The cash issuer will know what to do to resolve the issue.
Do Blank Checks Expire?
No, blank checks do not expire as long as there is nothing written on it. Once you write or sign on it, it is only active for six months or less if the issuer states so and may not be cashed after that.
Do Cashier Checks Expire?
Like with other checks, cashier checks expire too but vary from bank to bank. This is because they are not governed by the UCC and so the financial institution issuing the check will determine how long it stays valid.
But, if the bank holds a cashier’s check for a long time, it goes into the ‘escheating’ process and is returned to the state as unclaimed property. The time a cashier check stays before it enters the escheating process is determined by the state but is usually between 3 to 5 years.
Conclusion
Bank Hecks are a great form of payment if cashed without issues. But not cashing the check till it expires becomes the real problem as it makes the process stressful and frustrating. And so, you should cash a check as soon as possible to avoid stories that touch.
Frequently Asked Questions On Expired Checks.
What Should I Do If A Check I Write Expires Without Cashing? If you write a check to someone and the person does not cash it after a while, you should contact that person to know what the issue may be. If you’re unable to contact the person and the check expires, there is almost nothing you can do.
It is obligatory though to leave the amount of money signed on the check for at least six months but then the check may have been stolen or lost. If after the six months have expired and you don’t hear from the holder, you should stop the payment process to avoid fraud and seek other ways to pay the check.
What Types Of Checks Are There? There are many types of checks depending on the usage, issuer, and institution but the most common checks are personal checks, business checks, cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, electronic checks, and certified checks.
Their uses are mostly dependent on the issuer and the receiver.
