Would you like to learn how to write a check to someone, but you wonder how to write it correctly?
If you learn best by video, scroll to the bottom for a video!!
Recently we sold our house and started renting. I asked the rental company to set up auto-withdrawal, but I was informed they only take checks. So I dug to the bottom of the junk drawer and lone behold, I found my checkbook. I wiped the dust off and started filling in the blanks. Then it dawned on me, does anyone other than my parents write checks these days? Do most people even know how to write a personal check?
This article was written to help people write a check like a soccer mom at the grocery store in the late 1990s! In other words like a boss!
Who Takes A Check?
There are many situations where a check is the preferred or only form of payment and some people never have written a check. Since most people switch to debit cards or use apps that make it easy to transfer money, it’s important to know how to write a check. Not everyone learns to write checks these days, but today you will learn!
Surprisingly, some state and national campsites accept only checks and cash, such as the National Park Service and the National Parks Conservation Authority. Some small business owners prefer checks because credit and debit cards have higher processing fees. Multiple charities, such as parishes and churches, may opt for checks for similar reasons. Government offices, such as the DMV, are also partial to the almighty check.
Need To Know How To Write A Check?
If you don’t use checks often these days, a refresher course can be good. If you write a check, you can save a few dollars on charges and more importantly have the skills to pay all the bills.
In this article, I will show you how to fill in a check and answer some common questions you might have when writing a check. Writing a check to someone doesn’t have to be hard. There is a short video at the bottom of this article that walks you through check writing and gives some interesting facts, check it out!
Steps To Write A Check
There are several different lines you need to fill in, and each has a specific reason, so take a look at each section. Grab an ink pen, not a pencil crayon or glue stick, and start practicing.
Date
The first step in writing a check is to write the date of the check, usually, you are using today’s date, but occasionally you may postdate a check. Post date just means write it for a date in the future. The reason to postdate a check is if you do not want the check to get cashed or the money requested to get withdrawn from your account until a certain date. For example, if you know your water bill is due in 3 days and you get paid in 2 days, you could write your check date as after the date you get paid to insure your check clears. Otherwise, you could get charged a standard rate of 35 dollars for what is termed a bounced check. We will cover this later. Typically when writing a check you write out the month, such as February, then use the numbers for the day and year. So for today, I would write February 1, 2021.
Pay To The Order Of
Next, you want to fill in the “Pay to the order of.” This section is who the check is for. Never leave this section blank or to be filled in later. Make sure you place the name of the intended recipient on this line. Whether it is a person or business make sure to write it clearly. Also, avoid nicknames and ensure proper spelling. For example, if you are writing a check to your friend Landon, don’t write to Lando Comando. Use his first and last name. Otherwise, the check could get denied and leave your friend high and dry. I would also recommend if you are writing a check to a business, that you write it to the business name Such as GrassMasters Landscaping, not just to the owner or person you are handing the check to. This is just one important step in writing a check.
Check Amount Numerical Value
Write the check amount as a number and on the next line. The amount on which you want to pay the recipient. This is how much you will pay the person or company. Write it out in dollars, a decimal point, and cents. Let’s say you are writing a check for one-hundred dollars and twenty cents. You would handwrite the numbers like so 100.20. Now let’s say you are writing a check out for an even one-hundred dollars, you would write it out like so 100.00. You still want to include the decimal point and zeros. This way it cannot be easily altered, by simply added numbers behind the amount.
Check Amount In Handwriting
On the line below the “Pay to the order of,” there is another line with the word “dollars” printed after the line. This is where you handwrite the amount so the $100.20 you would spell out to read one-hundred dollars and 20/100. Note the cents are written as numbers in a fraction. Most people will draw a line to the end ——————–, this avoids anyone being able to add more numbers in this section. If the check was for $100.00 you would spell out one-hundred dollars and 00/100. It is important to use clear handwriting, as confusion can arise when a person deposits a check.
Memo
You are almost done, not too bad right? The next step in how to write a check is the memo section. This section is optional but provides a spot to reference what the payment is for. For example, if you are writing the check out to GrassMasters for lawn services, write in the memo box to mow the lawn or trim the tree. Add a small description as to what the service was for.
Signature
The finale, the last step. Without this the check isn’t valid, so to make good on your debts, don’t forget to sign the check. Your personal signature goes on this line, located at the bottom right corner of the check. Just simply sign your Herbie, I mean, John Hancock in this section. Remember do this last. You do not want a blank signed check or even a partially filled out check with your signature on it. If someone were to find it, they have access to all your funds and even more! So make sure to completely fill in the check before signing.
Fill Out The Amount In Your Checkbook
Most individuals that utilize a check have a checkbook or leger. This is where you record the amount you wrote the check for. This is important to see how much money you have in the account, and how much money you are taking out of the account. Termed balancing your checkbook. You will want to keep a good tally on how much you have in the account and how much you are spending. A bounced check AKA a check that was written, but your account was overdrawn or had insufficient funds will not be cashed. Meaning whoever has the check, when it goes to the bank, will not be able to withdraw the funds. This is bad for 2 reasons. One, you now look like a knucklehead for the check bouncing and thus not allowing the intended recipient to get paid. Two it will cost you on average, but check with your bank, a 35 dollar fee. So now, not only do you have to go through the hassle of writing another check or providing another payment method, but you lost an additional 35 dollar overdraft fee.
Check Terms
The term bounced check, overdraft or insufficient funds all mean the same thing. basically, you did not have the money available in your account to cover the amount the check was written for. Fun fact.
Most checks, even a payroll check have a holding or clearing period. During this period none or only part of the money in your account may be available. Be aware of this, you may have deposited a check from another person or a company in your account. These funds will not be available immediately. Just remember to allow at least 24 hours for the check to clear before having the individual you are writing the check to cash your check.
How To Cancel A Check/Direct Deposit
How to cancel a check: If you need a check for a direct deposit, you may need to cancel it. Simply write VOID across the entire check, in big bold lettering. Many companies will require this. It is not an odd request. This will provide the recipient with your account information. The numbers across the bottom of the check give your banking information. This allows the company to take your routing number, the first batch of numbers, and your account number, the second set of numbers, and set up auto-withdrawal.
Now that you are versed in check etiquette, time to take your checkbook and pen out on the town. There are definitely times when a check can be useful. With the help of this article, you now can confidently write a check and feel confident in doing it.
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