How long can you save a check?

You can save a check for up to 6 months (180 days) before it is considered stale and may not be accepted by banks, although some financial institutions may still choose to honor it if they deem the funds to be good. After this period, the check is no longer valid, and banks are under no obligation to accept it, according to the Uniform Commercial Code.

Understanding Check Validity

Check Expiration

Checks are a common form of payment, but they do come with an expiration date. The Uniform Commercial Code states that banks are not required to accept checks that are more than 6 months old. However, some banks may still choose to honor these checks if they believe the funds are good.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I cash a 2-year-old check?: You probably cannot cash a check that’s two years old, as banks don’t have to accept checks that are more than 6 months old. However, banks are still allowed to process an older check if the institution believes the funds are good.
2. Can I deposit a check from 10 months ago?: After those 6 months — or longer, depending on the specific bank’s policy — the check is considered stale, making it no longer valid. Banks are still allowed to process a stale check as long as the institution deems the funds are good.
3. Can I cash a check from 6 years ago?: The Uniform Commercial Code says banks are under no obligation to accept checks, personal or business, more than 180 days old. It’s ultimately up to the discretion of each bank whether to accept a check.
4. Do unused checks ever expire?: Blank checks, or unused checks, that are truly blank — no names, amounts, or dates filled in — generally don’t expire, provided that the associated account is still active.
5. What happens if I never cashed a check?: An outstanding check is a financial instrument that has not yet been deposited or cashed by the recipient. An outstanding check is still a liability for the payor who issued the check.
6. What happens if you don’t cash a check before it expires?: After those 6 months — or longer, depending on the specific bank’s policy — the check is considered stale, making it no longer valid. Banks are still allowed to process a stale check as long as the institution deems the funds are good.
7. Can I deposit a 10-year-old check?: The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) is a collection of laws and regulations meant to harmonize the laws of sales and regulations across the U.S. The UCC tells banks that they are under no obligation to accept personal or business checks that are older than 180 days (6 months).
8. Can I deposit a check from 7 years ago?: By law, banks are only required to honor checks for up to 6 months. Consider contacting the issuer before attempting to cash a stale check.
9. Can you cash a check 10 years later?: Checks that remain outstanding for long periods of time can’t be cashed, as they become void. Outstanding checks that remain so for a long period of time are known as “stale” checks.
10. What happens if I deposit a check older than 6 months?: After those 6 months — or longer, depending on the specific bank’s policy — the check is considered stale, making it no longer valid. Banks are still allowed to process a stale check as long as the institution deems the funds are good.
11. Is it illegal to deposit a stale check?: Checks that are more than 6 months old are called “stale checks.” A bank or credit union may choose to honor such a check, and different states have different requirements, but federal law does not require it to do so.
12. What is the law on stale checks?: Generally, a “stale check” (also called a “stale-dated check”) is an uncashed check that’s more than 6 months old. Although banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions might let you cash or deposit an outdated check into your account, the law doesn’t require them to do so.
13. Can I deposit an 8-year-old check?: The Uniform Commercial Code says banks are under no obligation to accept checks, personal or business, more than 180 days old. It’s ultimately up to! the discretion of each bank whether to accept a check.
14. Does the date on a check matter?: A signed check immediately becomes legal tender that a bank can deposit or cash before the indicated date on the check. Therefore, a bank will be able to accept a check if it is dated and signed.
15. How long do you have to keep a deposited check?: It’s a good idea to keep your check for 30 days or until you are sure that the full amount has posted to your account. After you have confirmed the deposited funds have been applied to your account correctly, destroy the check or mark it “VOID“.