Most checks are good for six months, but banks can refuse them after that
A check does not have a printed expiration date, but it becomes stale-dated after six months from the date written on it. After that point, your bank may refuse to cash it or deposit it, even if the account that issued it still has money. Some banks will cash a check older than six months if you ask, but they are not required to. The safest approach is to cash or deposit any check within 30 days of receiving it.
The six-month window is a standard practice across most U.S. banks, but individual banks set their own policies. A few banks will honor checks up to a year old; others may refuse anything past 90 days. If you have an old check, contact the bank that issued it (the one printed on the check) to ask whether they will still honor it. If they will not, you will need to ask the person or business who wrote it for a replacement.
Key Takeaways
- Banks typically will not cash or deposit checks older than six months from the date written on them.
- The six-month rule is a standard practice, not a federal law, so individual banks can set different limits.
- Depositing a check within 30 days is the safest way to avoid problems with age or account changes.
- If a check is refused as stale-dated, you must contact the person or business who wrote it to request a new one.
Why banks refuse old checks
Banks treat old checks as a risk. If a check sits for months, the account holder's financial situation may have changed — the account could be closed, frozen, or overdrawn. The bank that issued the check has no way to know whether the original writer still intends to honor it. Cashing an old check could mean processing a payment the account holder no longer wants to make.
Federal banking regulations do not set a hard deadline for check validity, which is why banks have the legal right to refuse them. The Uniform Commercial Code, which governs checks across states, says a bank may refuse a check that is more than six months old, but does not require it to. This gives banks flexibility to set their own policies while protecting themselves from fraud and overdrafts.
What happens when you try to cash or deposit an old check
If you take a check older than six months to your bank, the teller will likely flag it as stale-dated and refuse it. You will not lose the check — the bank will return it to you. If you try to deposit it through a mobile app or ATM, the deposit may be rejected automatically by the bank's system, and you will see a message explaining why.
Some banks will make an exception if you ask in person and the check is only slightly older than six months. A manager may approve it, especially if you have a long history with the bank. However, this is a courtesy, not a may provide. The issuing bank still has the final say on whether to honor it, and they may refuse payment even after your bank accepts the deposit. In that case, the check will bounce, and you may face a returned-check fee.
How to handle a check you have not cashed yet
If you have a check sitting at home and are not sure how old it is, look at the date written in the upper right corner. Count forward six months from that date. If you are within that window, deposit or cash it as soon as you can. If you are past six months, contact the person or business who wrote the check and ask for a replacement. Do not try to alter the date on the check — that is fraud and is illegal.
When you ask for a replacement check, have the original check with you if possible. The issuer will want to know the check number and amount to make sure they are not paying twice. Most businesses and individuals will issue a new check without much fuss, especially if you explain that the original one was lost or forgotten. Some may ask you to sign a statement saying you will not cash the old one, or they may void it in their system.
Checks from closed accounts or businesses
If the business or person who wrote the check is no longer in operation, or if the account has been closed, you may not be able to get a replacement. In this case, you have lost the money unless you can reach the account holder through another method. This is one reason why cashing checks promptly matters — the longer you wait, the higher the risk that circumstances will change.
If the check was from a business that has shut down, try contacting the owner or a successor business if one exists. If it was a personal check from someone you know, reach out to them directly. If you cannot locate them and the check is old enough that the bank will not honor it, you will likely have to accept the loss.
State laws and variations
Most states follow the six-month standard, but a few have different rules. Some states allow banks to refuse checks after 90 days; others extend the window to one year. Your own bank's policy may also differ from the issuing bank's policy. When you deposit a check, your bank may accept it even if the issuing bank later refuses to pay it. In that case, the check bounces, and the funds are removed from your account.
If you are unsure about a specific check, call the bank that issued it and ask. You can find that bank's phone number on the check itself or online. Have the check number, amount, and date ready when you call. The bank can tell you whether they will still honor it and what you need to do next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash a check that is more than a year old?
Probably not. Most banks refuse checks older than six months, and some refuse them after 90 days. A few banks may honor checks up to one year old, but you would need to contact the issuing bank to ask. If they refuse, you will need a replacement from the person or business who wrote it.
What if I deposited a check and it was rejected as stale-dated?
Your bank will return the check to you and may charge you a returned-item fee. Contact the issuing bank to confirm they will not honor it, then reach out to the person or business who wrote the check to request a replacement. Keep the rejected check as proof of the original transaction.
Does the six-month rule apply to cashier's checks or money orders?
Cashier's checks and money orders have different rules than personal checks. Cashier's checks typically do not expire, though some banks may refuse very old ones. Money orders usually expire after one to three years depending on the issuer. Check the document itself or contact the issuer for their specific policy.
Can I cash a check if the person who wrote it has died?
Not directly. If the check is still valid (within six months), you would need to work with the person's estate or bank. Contact the bank that issued the check and explain the situation. They can tell you whether the account is still active and what steps are needed to process the check through the estate.
What if I lost a check and found it years later?
If it is more than six months old, the bank will almost certainly refuse it. Contact the person or business who wrote it and ask for a replacement. Explain that you found the original check but it is too old to cash. They may ask you to return or destroy the original to prevent accidental double-payment.