Personal and business checks are generally valid for 6 months (180 days) from the date written on the check. After this period, they are considered "stale" checks, and banks are not legally required to honor them, though some banks may still choose to accept them

. Different types of checks have varying validity periods:

• Personal and business checks: Valid for 6 months (180 days). Some checks may have "void after 90 days" printed, but banks typically honor them up to 6 months

• U.S. Treasury checks (including federal tax refunds): Valid for 1 year from the issue date. After that, you must request a reissue from the government agency

• State and local government checks: Validity varies by state but generally ranges from 6 months to 1 year. Expired checks can be reissued upon request

• Cashier’s and certified checks: Often do not have a fixed expiration date, but cashier’s checks may have expiration or void periods depending on issuer policies. Certified checks typically do not expire but may be subject to unclaimed property laws

• Traveler’s checks and money orders: Generally do not expire as long as the issuer remains in business, though money orders may incur fees after a few years

To avoid issues, it is best to deposit or cash checks promptly. If you have an old check, check with your bank and the issuer to confirm if it can still be cashed or if a new check should be requested