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Stolen Checks, Altered Amounts, Endorsements, and Stop-Payment Orders

This guide presents selected U.S. government consumer education from CFPB. References to “we” or “us” in the source material refer to the issuing agency. Source dates and links appear below.

I wrote a check and the person I gave it to increased the amount of the check before cashing it. The bank/credit union paid the higher amount rather than the amount I had written. What can I do?

Contact your bank or credit union as quickly as you can. If your bank or credit union cashed the check, you may be able to have the difference restored to your account.

You are still responsible for the original amount of the check.

If the check was processed as an electronic transfer, you have additional protections under federal law.

If the check was not processed as an electronic transfer, you still may have protections under state law.

I lost a check written to me. Someone forged my signature on the back of the check and then cashed it. What can I do?

Contact your bank or credit union right away to tell them about the situation. Next, tell the person who wrote you the check.

The person who wrote you the check might be able to be reimbursed by their bank or credit union and write you a new check.

If the check was processed as an electronic transfer, you have additional protections under federal law.

If the check was not processed as an electronic transfer, you may have protections under state law.

I wrote a check, but it was stolen and cashed by the thief. What can I do?

Contact your bank or credit union right away. State law generally provides that you are not responsible for a check if someone forged the signature of the person to whom you made out the check.

Tell your bank or credit union what happened and ask for the money to be restored to your account. If the check was processed as an electronic transfer, you have additional protections under federal law.

These protections generally do not apply if you signed a blank check. You usually can’t get your money back if someone fills in his or her own name and cashes the check. If you lose a check you have signed without filling in the name of the recipient, you should stop payment on the check to try to prevent it from being cashed.

I wrote a check, and someone forged the endorsement and cashed the check. My bank/credit union won't return my money to my account. Am I responsible?

Contact your bank or credit union as quickly as you can after you learn of a forged endorsement. You are generally not responsible for a fraudulent endorsement as long as you report it within the period set by state law.

If the check was processed as an electronic transfer, you have additional protections under federal law.

If the check was not processed as an electronic transfer, you may have protections under state law.

What does it mean for a check to be indorsed "for deposit only"?

If you write “for deposit only” on the back of a check made out to you and then sign your name, the check can only be deposited in your account.

This is called a “restrictive indorsement,” and it should prevent you or any other person from cashing the check. If you receive a check that was made out to someone else and that person endorsed it “for deposit only,” you should not be able to cash it.

Do both my spouse and I have to sign the back of a check made out to us?

Take a look at the wording on the front of the check to see who has to sign it, before the money can be deposited or the check can be cashed.

Who needs to endorse a check made out to two people?

Checks issued to two people together, such as Pat and Chris Doe, generally need to be signed by both people before the bank or credit union cashes the check or deposits the money.

Checks issued to Pat or Chris Doe can generally be signed by either person. The bank or credit union permits either person to cash the check or deposit the money.

How do I stop payment on a check?

Contact your bank or credit union right away if you want to stop payment on a check. Your bank or credit union may charge you a fee when you request to stop payment on a check.

The process of stopping payment on a check varies between financial institutions. The same is true for how long that the stop payment lasts. Talk to someone at your bank or credit union to learn about their policies.

Most states have laws that say if you make your stop-payment request, in writing, before the check has been completely processed, the check can’t be cashed for six months. In some cases, the stop payment expires after one year.

After your stop payment request expires, the bank or credit union may pay out the check if someone presents it. You can make another stop payment order when the first one expires. To permanently stop the payment from going through, consider closing the account and opening a new one.

Can a bank or credit union cash a post-dated check before the date on the check?

Yes. Banks and credit unions generally don’t have to wait until the date you put on a check to cash it.

However, state law may require the bank or credit union to wait to cash the check if you notify them. Contact your bank or credit union to hold the check before processing it and learn what its policies are.

Generally, state law provides that if you notified your bank or credit union in writing about a post-dated check a reasonable time before it received the check, your notice is valid for six months. During that time, the bank or credit union should not cash the check before the date you wrote on the check.

If you only gave an oral notice, without confirming it in writing, your notice is only valid for 14 days. After that, the bank or credit union can cash the check before the date you wrote on it. If your bank or credit union cashed a check before the date you put on it while your notice was still valid, then it may be liable to you for any damages.

My bank/credit union no longer provides copies of my cancelled checks with my statement. Can the bank/credit union do that?

Yes. Banks and credit unions are generally not required by law to return cancelled checks or check images.

Usually your monthly statement will include the check number, amount, and date of payment for each check you wrote. State laws also generally require banks and credit unions to keep a copy of all checks for seven years. Contact your bank or credit union directly if you need to obtain a copy of a cancelled check. However, some banks or credit unions charge a fee for this service. Some states have laws preventing a charge for the first two check images per statement cycle.

Sources and publication details

The federal agency source text is U.S. government work in the public domain. Fynoptic selected, adapted, and formatted it for this guide. No agency endorsement is implied. Follow the linked sources for current program details and the rules applicable to your circumstances.

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