Personal checks are generally valid for six months (180 days) from the date they are written. After this period, they are considered "stale" or expired, and banks are not legally obligated to honor them, although some banks may still choose to accept them at their discretion
. Key points include:
- The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) sets the six-month guideline for personal and business checks, but this is not an absolute expiration-banks may accept older checks but are not required to do so
- Some checks may have a "void after 90 days" or similar note printed, but this is typically a recommendation rather than a strict rule; most banks still honor checks up to six months old
- If you have an old personal check, it's advisable to contact your bank and the issuer to confirm whether it can still be cashed or if a new check should be issued
- Depositing or cashing checks promptly is recommended to avoid issues such as changes in account status or insufficient funds
In summary, a personal check is good for about six months, after which it may be rejected by banks, so timely deposit or cashing is best practice.
