You find an old check in a drawer — maybe a birthday gift from grandma, a refund you forgot about, or a paycheck you never deposited. It is months old. The big question: is it still worth anything, or has it expired?
The short answer: yes, checks expire. Most personal checks are good for six months. After that, banks are not legally required to cash them. But the exact timeline depends on the type of check — and an “expired” check does not always mean your money is gone.
This guide breaks down how long every type of check stays valid, what happens when a check goes stale, and what to do if you are holding an old one.
Do Personal Checks Expire?
Yes. Personal checks expire six months (180 days) after the date written on them.
This rule comes from the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), the set of laws governing commercial transactions in the United States. After six months, a check is considered “stale-dated,” and banks are not legally required to honor it.
Here is the important nuance: the six-month mark ends the bank’s *obligation*, not its *ability*. Many banks will still cash a stale check as a courtesy — especially if it is only slightly past six months and the account has sufficient funds. But they can also refuse it, and you cannot force them to pay.
If you are on the other side of the equation and need to fill one out correctly, our step-by-step guide on how to write a check covers every field.
How Long Are Different Types of Checks Good For?
Not all checks follow the six-month rule. Here is how long each common type stays valid:
| Check Type | How Long It Lasts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal check | 6 months (180 days) | UCC rule; bank’s discretion after that |
| Business check | 6 months (180 days) | Same as personal; may have “void after” date printed |
| Cashier’s check | 60 days – 1 year | Depends on the bank; check for a printed expiration date |
| Certified check | No fixed expiry | Can be turned over to unclaimed property if ignored too long |
| Government / U.S. Treasury check | 1 year | Tax refunds, Social Security payments |
| Money order | Does not expire | Fees may apply after 1 year |
| Traveler’s check | Never expires | Valid as long as the issuer is in business |
### Cashier’s Checks
A cashier’s check is backed by the bank’s own funds, not yours, so banks treat it more seriously. Many banks print a “void after” date on the front — commonly 60 to 180 days. If yours has no printed date, it does not technically expire, but the funds can eventually be turned over to the state as unclaimed property. Deposit it sooner rather than later.
### Government Checks
U.S. Treasury checks — including tax refunds and Social Security payments — expire one year after the issue date. State and local government checks follow their own rules, which vary. If yours expired, contact the issuing agency to request a reissue; the money is still yours.
### Money Orders
Money orders do not expire. However, most issuers (like Western Union or MoneyGram) start charging dormancy or service fees after one to three years, which slowly eats the value. Cash them within a year to avoid fees.
What Does “Void After 90 Days” Mean?
You may see “Void after 90 days” printed on a check, especially business or insurance checks. This is the *issuer’s* instruction to the bank, not a law. In practice:
- Many banks will still honor the check after 90 days, treating it as a request rather than a hard rule.
- Some banks will reject it strictly.
- Either way, the six-month UCC rule still applies as the legal backstop.
If you receive a check with a “void after” date that has passed, contact the issuer first — they can usually reissue it in minutes.
What Happens If You Try to Deposit an Expired Check?
Three things can happen when you deposit a stale check:
- The bank accepts it. Common for checks only slightly past six months with sufficient funds in the issuer’s account.
- The bank rejects it. You get the check back, and no money moves.
- The bank accepts it, then it bounces. The worst outcome — the issuer’s account lacks funds, the check is returned, and *you* may be charged a returned-item fee.
This is why depositing a very old check blindly is risky. A quick call to the issuing bank first can save you fees and hassle.
What to Do With an Old or Expired Check
Found a stale check? Follow these steps:
Step 1: Check the date. Count six months from the date written on the check. If it is under six months, deposit it normally — ideally with mobile deposit or at your bank.
Step 2: Contact the issuer. If it is past six months, call or message the person or company who wrote it. Ask them to issue a replacement check. Most will do this without any fuss — the underlying debt does not disappear just because the paper expired.
Step 3: Try depositing it anyway (carefully). If you cannot reach the issuer, you can attempt the deposit. Banks often honor stale checks in good faith. Just be prepared for a possible rejection or hold.
Step 4: For government checks, contact the agency. The IRS, Social Security Administration, or your state agency can reissue expired checks. Do not just throw them away — unclaimed government money eventually goes to unclaimed property programs, where it is harder to recover.
Step 5: Never try to alter the date. Changing the date on a check to make it look newer is fraud. Do not do it.
How to Avoid Expired Checks
- Deposit checks immediately. The day you receive a check is the best day to deposit it. Endorse it correctly and deposit it the same day.
- Use mobile deposit. Photographing a check takes two minutes and starts the clock in your favor.
- Set a reminder. If you cannot deposit right away, set a phone reminder for within a week.
- Ask for electronic payment. Direct deposit and electronic transfers never expire. If you are setting that up, you may need a voided check — our guide shows how to make one in under a minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do checks expire after 6 months?
Personal and business checks become “stale” after six months under the UCC. Banks are not legally required to honor them after that, though many still do at their discretion.
Can a bank cash a check that is a year old?
It can choose to, but it is not required to. A year-old personal check is well past the six-month stale date. Your best move is to ask the issuer for a replacement.
Do cashier’s checks expire?
They can. Many have a printed “void after” date (often 60–180 days). Without a printed date, they do not technically expire, but unclaimed funds may eventually go to the state.
What happens to the money if a check expires?
Nothing — the money stays with the issuer. An expired check does not cancel the debt. Contact the issuer for a reissue, or for government checks, contact the agency.
Do money orders expire?
No, money orders do not expire, but issuers may charge monthly dormancy fees after one to three years. Cash them within a year to keep the full value.
Final Words
Most checks expire — personal checks after six months, government checks after one year. The fix is simple: deposit every check the day you get it. And if you find an old one, do not throw it away — the money behind it is still yours. Contact the issuer, get a reissue, and deposit it promptly.
Once your check routine is smooth, take the next step and get your full money picture organized with our monthly budget guide.
