Do Checks Expire?
4 Min Read | Last updated: July 23, 2026
Learn how long checks remain in date, and what to do with an expired or uncashed check.
At-A-Glance
- Most personal checks expire six months after they’re written, but some financial institutions may still cash them after that, even though it’s not legally required.1
- Other types of checks may have shorter or longer expiration periods, depending on who issued them and for what purpose.
- You can make copies of the checks you write to prove you paid on time and contact your financial institution, the check issuer, or the payee to sort out expired checks.
Imagine Grandma mails a birthday card with a $50 check inside, and it gets stuck on the fridge. Months later, that $50 could really come in handy, but what if the check has expired? Do all checks expire at some point? While physical checks might feel a bit old-school, people still use them, and knowing how long they last and what to do when they expire can help save you a headache.
Do Checks Expire, and How Long Are They Valid for?
Generally, personal checks that you write yourself or receive from a friend or family member can be cashed up to six months after they're written.2 Once that six-month mark passes, many financial institutions generally consider the check as “stale.” But it’s usually up to the bank's discretion whether they'll process an old check, and some may still do so.
To be safe, you can head to your bank or open your banking app to deposit that money as soon as you get it.
How Long Are Other Checks Good For?
Aside from personal checks, you might come across other types of checks with different timelines.
Here is a quick breakdown of how long they usually last:
- Business checks
Like personal checks, these are generally valid for six months, and even if they say "void after 90 days," banks may still cash them after that.3 - U.S. Treasury checks
You generally have one year to cash these (like a tax refund), but if you miss the window, the funds get returned to the agency, and you can request a reissue for up to six years.4 - State and local government checks
These can often be tax refunds or benefits checks, and they usually expire anywhere from 6-12 months after the issue date.5 You may still be able to get it reissued if you can contact the issuer. - Cashier’s and certified checks
Cashier’s checks might have expiration dates ranging from 60-180 days, depending on local laws.6 Certified checks rarely have an expiration date, but uncashed funds may eventually be sent back to the state. - Traveler’s checks
Traveler’s checks generally don't expire, but it can't hurt to contact the issuer to be completely sure. - Money orders
These rarely expire, but you might get hit with a fee if you wait too long to cash one.
What Happens If a Check Is Never Cashed?
If you write a check to pay a bill and the payee never cashes it, the funds stay in your account. While that may sound nice, it could cause an issue down the road. If the payee doesn't process the check, your payment could be marked as late if it’s for a credit account or medical bill, which might result in a negative mark on your credit report.
If you are dealing with an uncashed check, here are a few steps you can take:
- Contacting the payee
You could reach out to see if they lost the check or just forgot to deposit it. - Placing a stop payment
A stop payment is a formal request to your bank to cancel a check before it is processed, so no one can cash it later. - Contacting your bank
Letting your financial institution know about the missing check may prompt them to monitor your account for added security. - Filing a claim
If a guaranteed check (like a cashier's check) is lost, you can file a declaration of loss claim with the bank. - Waiting out the reissuing period
For things like cashier's checks, banks often require you to wait up to 90 days for a replacement.7
What Happens If You Cash a Check After Six Months?
Trying to deposit a check that has been sitting around for more than six months can lead to a few different scenarios:
- Your bank and the issuing bank might go ahead and cash the check and process the money normally.
- Your financial institution may refuse to cash it and ask you to request a replacement from whoever wrote it.
- You might run into a stop payment, meaning the issuer canceled the check and prevented you from cashing it.
- The issuer's account may no longer have sufficient funds, resulting in a bounced check.
How to Prepare for Expired Checks
Dealing with expired or lost checks can be annoying, but a little preparation can go a long way.
There are a few financial habits you can start building that may help expedite solutions for expired checks:
- Deposit checks into your account via online direct deposit as soon as you get them.
- Make a habit of making copies or taking photos of the checks you write and receive.
- Have a sample customer complaint template ready to go—like the ones that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides here: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/sample-customer-complaint-letter—so you can formally dispute the issue if or when a business loses your check.
- Regularly review your credit report to spot and dispute any erroneous late payment marks that might have popped up because a check went uncashed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Digital payments may be more popular, but paper checks can still be useful. You might need them to gift money securely, pay small businesses that don't accept cards, or set up direct deposit for a new job. They also provide a clear, written record of your payment.
Generally, checks take between one and five business days to clear.8 However, federal regulations allow banks to delay the availability of funds if you deposit more than $5,525 in a single day.9
A voided check is simply a paper check with the word "VOID" written across the front. Writing this prevents anyone from using the check to make a payment. You usually use voided checks to securely share your bank's routing and account numbers when setting up direct deposits or automated bill payments.
The Takeaway
While most checks don’t have strict expiration dates printed on them, they can expire. You typically have about six months to cash a personal check before it goes stale, though other types of checks follow different timelines. If a check expires before you can cash it, or the person you wrote it to never cashes it, you can contact your bank or the check issuer for help. Explore checking account resources, like how to open a checking account, to learn more.
1,2,3,4,5,6 “How Long Are Checks Good For?,” Experian
7 “How to handle a lost cashier’s check,” Bankrate
8,9 “How Long Does It Take a Check to Clear?,” U.S. News
Amanda Fancourt is a writer, editor, and content strategist. She covers finance, investment, and real estate. Her work has been featured in a range of publications, including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fortune, and Realtor.com.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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