About checks?

Question

I'm an accountant from outside the U.S.

In the United States, do checks have to be cashed by a certain date? Do they expire? If so:

When?
What is the legal basis for it?
Do banks follow the rule? Or do you need businesses to issue a new check.

Thank you, in advance.

Besides the ten points you get an answer to your Accounting/Tax question...:)

Answer 1

Certified checks usually have an expiration date on them. Personal checks are only good for 6 months from when they were dated.
If there is no expiration date on a business check, we would still honor it.
This is what we do at the credit union I work for, i'm not sure if different places have different rules

Answer 2

In theory, a check is considered stale dated 6 months from its date. Of course, a bank may properly pay a check that is more than 6 months old, if it does so in good faith. Another important date is 90 days from the date the check is issued, since this is the date at which the check is considered overdue (UCC 3-304(a)(2)). This is important because in order to be a holder in due course on a negotiable instrument, you must take the instrument without notice that it's overdue. (3-302(a)(2)(iii)) You can't do that more than 90 days after the check is dated

Answer 3

The only expirations that i am aware of are if the check it self has an expiration date written on it. Some company like from re-funds state on the check not valid after 180 or 60 days.