How long is a personal check valid?

Question

Someone wrote me a personal check & I'm not sure if I can still cash it. It doesn't have an expiration date on the check, but I know most personal checks are only valid for a certain amount of days. I think it might only be 90? Please help! Thanks!

Answer 1

some institutions give a 180 day period, but may cash it long after that. (i was surprised in sept of 2004 when a check i wrote 2 years earlier was suddenly cashed - despite that my bank told me it shouldn't have)

legally, if the money was given to you, you should still have claim on it.

however! it would be a good idea, i'm sure, if you can get in touch with the person that wrote the check - if it's friend or family, i'm sure you don't want to surprise them with an overdraft! let them know you have the check, and forgot to cash it, would it be trouble if you cash it at this time.

but, if it was payment for services rendered, just go for it

Answer 2

As a legal matter, if the check is not marked with an expiration date, you may have a legal right to payment for a long time. As a practical matter, you are not likely to get a check cashed that is real old. I would say six months is not too old.

Answer 3

Anything over 6 months old is considered a "stale check" and banks should not cash them. You should ask the issuer for a new check.

Answer 4

It depends on the bank, sometimes it can be for one year. So check with the bank, but if possible ask the person to re-issue you a new one.

Answer 5

it's 6 months

Answer 6

1 year I think

Answer 7

Six months and then they are conisidered "stale-dated".