A post-dated cheque is a cheque written by the drawer (payer) for a date in the future. The intention is that the recipient will not cash or deposit the cheque until the future indicated date. Post-dating a cheque is legal, and it is legal for a bank to cash or deposit it. However, whether a post-dated cheque may be cashed or deposited before the date written on it depends on the country. In Canada, for example, a bank is not supposed to process a post-dated cheque, and if it does so by mistake, the cheque writer may ask their bank to correct the error. In the United States and the UK, post-dated cheques are negotiable instruments and can be drawn upon at any time, while in India and Australia, post-dated cheques are not payable until the date written on the cheque.

To write a post-dated cheque, you need to make sure that you have checks available with your updated information and fill out all sections as you normally would. The date section should include a future date that you would prefer the cheque be deposited or cashed on. The date on the cheque serves as a “timer” that indicates when the cheque can be deposited or cashed. The validity of a post-dated cheque is typically three months from the date of issuance.

In summary, a post-dated cheque is a cheque written for a future date, and whether it can be cashed or deposited before the date written on it depends on the country. It is legal to post-date a cheque, and it is a negotiable instrument that can be drawn upon at any time in some countries, while in others, it is not payable until the date written on the cheque. To write a post-dated cheque, you need to fill out all sections as you normally would, but with a future date instead of the current date.