By Lars Tramilton
Overview
Personal checks are drawn from individual, personal bank accounts. Many people wonder whether or not personal checks have expiration dates. Sometimes you will hear that personal checks "expire" after a period of six months, and sometimes you will hear from someone else that personal checks actually do not ever expire.
Identification
After a check is six months old, it doesn't reach its expiration date. It actually is "stale dated," to use an antiquated bank term. When a check reaches six months in age, the bank from which it was issued has the legal right to pay the check or bounce the check for the date. If it pays the check, the customer cannot state that the bank should not have paid it as there is no stop order. If it bounces the check, the customer cannot fault the bank or accuse them of wrongfully dishonoring it.
Warning
If you have checks that are presently six months or over that in age, you should decide whether you want to risk that it will be paid prior to adding the amount back into your checkbook's balance. If you want to make sure that the amount isn't going to be paid, you should put a stop order on it and then continue to renew the order twice a year (every six months) until you are completely sure that it will not show up.
Considerations
Another thing that you have to consider when you are holding a check that is stale dated is that you are engaging in risky behavior if you choose to deposit it and then immediately spend the money. This is because the bank that is drawn upon can decide to bounce the check. At this point, you should think about perhaps contacting the individual who gave you the check and asking for a new one.
Theories/Speculation
It's also important to remember, when thinking about personal check expiration that banking loans different depending on which state you reside in. The majority of states consider six month old personal checks to be stale dated, however. Stale dated checks usually can be cashed successfully, but it's always good to read up on your state's standards and practices regarding this banking issue.
Blank Personal Checks
In a slightly different matter, if you have a book of blank personal checks, they do not have an expiration date and therefore never expire. So no matter how long ago you received the checks, as long as they are connected to a presently open account, you can continue to use them normally. Make sure your account information, such as your bank account number, hasn't changed.
Do Personal Checks Expire? by moneymakersociety.net