SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/old-check-six-months

You find a personal check from 8 months ago. Does the bank have to pay it?

No. A bank doesn't have to pay a personal check that's 6 months old or more.

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The Just Right card

Too littleToss it, old checks are worthless
Too muchLet it sit another year
Just rightDeposit checks soon, or ask for a new one

Huh, didn't know that: Whoever writes a check can set a shorter limit by writing "not good after X days" on it.

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References

Answer: No, not once it's 6 months old. A check that's 6 months old or more is called stale-dated. The bank may still pay it, but it doesn't have to. Try it, or ask the writer for a new one.

  1. OCC HelpWithMyBank.gov: Glossary (Stale-Dated Check) www.helpwithmybank.gov/glossary/index-glossary.html
    Banks are not required by the Uniform Commercial Code to honor stale-dated checks and can return them to the issuing bank unpaid.
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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Test yourself in the game

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That's stuff everyone should know.