Personal checks do not have a legal expiration date, but banks will usually refuse to cash or deposit them after six months
A check written to you does not become invalid just because time passes. However, the bank that holds the account the check is drawn on will treat a check presented more than six months after the date written as stale. A stale check is one the bank may refuse to process, even if the account has funds and the signature is valid.
The six-month window is a standard practice, not a federal law. Some banks honor checks older than six months; others refuse them at four months. Your bank's specific policy appears in your account agreement or deposit terms. If you have a check older than six months, calling the bank that issued it (the number on the check itself) is the fastest way to learn whether they will still process it.
The person or business that wrote the check can also reissue it with a new date, which resets the clock. This is common when checks get lost in the mail or sit in a drawer longer than expected.
Key Takeaways
- Banks typically refuse to cash or deposit checks more than six months old, though the exact timeframe varies by bank.
- There is no federal law that makes a check invalid after a certain date, so the issuer could theoretically honor an older check if they choose.
- Calling the bank that issued the check is the fastest way to confirm whether they will still process it.
- If a check is too old, the person or business that wrote it can write you a new check with the current date.
Why banks treat old checks as stale
Banks use the six-month rule as a fraud prevention measure. A check that old may indicate the check was lost, stolen, or forgotten—circumstances that raise the risk of unauthorized use. The issuer may have also closed the account, moved banks, or stopped payment on the check without the holder knowing.
When you deposit or cash a check, the bank verifies that the account exists, has sufficient funds, and has not been flagged with a stop-payment order. An old check creates extra work because the bank must investigate whether conditions have changed since the check was written. Rather than process that check, most banks simply decline it.
What happens when you try to deposit or cash a stale check
If you take a check older than six months to a bank or ATM, one of three things usually happens. The check may be rejected outright at the point of deposit—the teller or machine will not accept it. The check may be submitted to the issuing bank, which then refuses to pay and returns it marked "stale dated." Or, in rare cases, the issuing bank may honor it anyway if the account holder approves or if the bank's policy allows it.
If a check is rejected, you receive no money and the check is returned to you. There is no fee for attempting to deposit a stale check, though your bank may charge a fee if the deposit fails and you overdraw your account as a result. The best approach is to contact the issuer before attempting to deposit an old check.
How to handle a check you have held for months
If you have a check that is approaching or has passed the six-month mark, contact the person or business that wrote it. Explain that you have the check and ask them to issue a new one with today's date. Most issuers will do this without hesitation, especially if the check was lost in the mail or overlooked.
Provide the issuer with the original check number, the amount, and the date it was written. This helps them locate the transaction in their records and confirm they have not already stopped payment on it. If the issuer is a business, you may need to contact their accounting or payments department rather than a general phone line.
Once you receive the new check, deposit it within a reasonable timeframe—ideally within a few weeks. This avoids the same situation repeating.
Checks written to a business or organization
If you wrote a check to a business or nonprofit and they have not deposited it within six months, the same stale-check rules apply to them. They cannot deposit it without contacting you for a replacement. This is common when organizations receive donations by check and staff members misplace them before processing.
If you suspect a check you wrote has gone undeposited for a long time, you can stop payment on it through your bank. This prevents the check from being cashed if it resurfaces later. Your bank will charge a stop-payment fee, usually between $25 and $35. Once you stop payment, you can write a new check or use another payment method.
State laws and exceptions
Most states follow the six-month standard, but a few have different rules. Some states allow banks to refuse checks after a shorter period, while others have no specific timeframe in law and leave it to bank policy. If you are dealing with a check from another state or a bank in another state, the rules of that state may apply.
Checks issued by government agencies—such as tax refunds, stimulus payments, or unemployment benefits—sometimes have different rules. Federal tax refund checks, for example, are typically valid for one year from the issue date. If you have a government check, check the agency's website or call them directly to learn the specific timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deposit a check that is one year old?
Most banks will refuse a check that old. The standard is six months, and many banks are stricter. Contact the bank that issued the check to ask whether they will honor it. If not, ask the person or business that wrote it to issue a new check.
What if the person who wrote the check has died?
A check written by someone who has since died is still valid if it is within the six-month window and the account is still open. If the account has been closed or the check is older than six months, the bank will refuse it. The estate or executor may be able to issue a replacement payment, but that is a separate matter from the original check.
Do I need to do anything special to deposit an old check?
No special process is needed—just attempt to deposit it normally. If the bank refuses it, ask them why. If it is stale-dated, contact the issuer for a new check. If there is another reason (a missing signature, illegible amount, or closed account), the issuer can address that when they reissue it.
Can I cash a check at the issuing bank even if it is stale?
Possibly. Some banks will cash a stale check if you go to a branch in person and the account holder approves. Call the bank first to ask whether this is an option. You may need to bring ID and be prepared to wait while they verify the account and contact the account holder.
What if I deposited a stale check and it was rejected after I spent the money?
If the deposit failed and you overdrew your account, contact your bank about the overdraft fee. Explain that the check was rejected as stale. Some banks will waive the fee as a courtesy, especially if it is your first time. You will still need to obtain a new check from the issuer to recover the funds.