I just realized I have an old paycheck from August 2019 that I never cashed. It’s about $1000, and I was working as a 1099 contractor for a small business at the time. I never took it off the paystub or signed it, and my old employer is still around.
I checked my state’s unclaimed property database, but nothing showed up. I’m not sure if that’s because I was an independent contractor.
I was thinking of dropping by on Monday to ask if they could reissue the check, but I don’t know if that’s even something they’d agree to. Any advice on the best way to handle this? Thanks in advance!
Check the front of the check—sometimes they say ‘Void after X years.’ If it doesn’t say anything, banks usually follow their own policies. Some cash checks up to 180 days old, but it varies.
If there’s nothing printed about expiration, ask your bank if they’d accept it. If not, go to your employer and request a reissue. They should be able to handle it.
First, search your state’s unclaimed property site. If it’s not there, contact the employer directly. Sometimes businesses skip reporting these to the state, either by mistake or on purpose. Ideally, they’ll just issue you a new check.
@PixelPioneer
I checked but didn’t find anything. I think it might be because I was a contractor. Hoping my old boss doesn’t make this harder than it needs to be. Thanks for the advice!
Honestly, asking for a reissue is your best bet. If the check is still attached to the stub, that makes it easier for them to track. Even if it wasn’t, their accounting team should be able to confirm it wasn’t cashed.
The check is definitely void by now. If you try to deposit it, it could cause complications since the paying bank will reject it.
Send an email to your former employer and ask for a reissue. No need to go in person yet—they’ll need time to check their records and confirm it wasn’t cashed. The fact that you didn’t sign it doesn’t change much. A lot of checks are deposited digitally without signatures.
Just ask your old employer to reissue it. Once you get the new one, deposit it right away. Don’t listen to anyone saying you can still cash the old check or ask the bank—this one’s void for sure.