Please note that it’s always possible that Western Union or U.S.P.S. have changed their rules. Contact the issuer of your money order to find out if they have an expiration date or charge fees against old money orders. Cashier’s checks are a special type of check and they’re typically used for larger transactions. Read our article about What’s a Cashier’s Check if you’d like more information about cashier’s checks themselves. A person would have to get evidence regarding the actions their bank took when it honored a stale check.

This letter must be delivered between May and August, with a response deadline of September 30th or earlier, in order for us to meet the State’s October 31st reporting deadline. The letter should include multiple options for responding to the query, such as letter, email, or FAX. The policy should more clearly outline what you are going to do if a recipient does not cash a check that you’ve issued. Certified checks guarantee that there are funds in the account, so those cashing the check don’t have to worry about it bouncing. If you want a basic checking account with no monthly maintenance fee, or an interest-earning checking account, we’ve got the options that are right for you. If the bank is at fault, a person could explore filing a claim in court.

What Happens if You Don’t Cash a Check?

The six-month rule applies to both personal and commercial checks, including payroll checks. As a result of the difference in the state rules, the time required for a check to become stale also varies for the various states in the U.S. Hence, as per the available information, the check can be considered stale if not cashed in the bank within 60 days or it might never be considered stale. Some checks have preprinted language stating how long they’re valid.

Ms. McAllister pushed forward, trying to prove that the two deposits were an employee’s error, making it her full-time job. She said she made roughly 40 phone calls to Chase, including one that involved a three-way discussion with her former community bank. After they do connect, the most difficult task may be figuring out which bank is on the hook — an investigation that can take months.

Schnall v. Amboy National Bank

To make a case for punitive damages in a situation in which a bank wrongfully honored a stale check might be challenging. Again, only if the bank committed some type of outrageous wrong could a claim for punitive damages succeed. stale dated checks Another solution is to contact the person or business that wrote the check and ask them if they would issue another check to replace the stale one. However, it is up to the bank to decide if it will process a stale check.