How long is a check good for?

This question is about Cashier’s Checks: Where To Get One, Cost & More

Sydney Garth, Credit Cards Moderator

@sydneygarth 07/27/20 This answer was first published on 07/27/20. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.

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Personal checks are typically good for 6 months. Business, government, US Treasury, cashier's and traveler's checks are different. U.S. Treasury checks are good for up to one year. Traveler’s checks and domestic United States Postal Service (USPS) money orders do not expire.

In other words, checks do generally expire after a certain amount of time, which varies depending on the type of check.

By law, banks are under no obligation to accept personal or business checks that are older than 6 months. Beyond that timeline, it is up to the bank’s discretion, which may include contacting the account holder for approval. It's wise to contact the issuer before attempting to cash a stale check.

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