Stop payment on a check
Contact your bank before the check is cashed, in the app, online, by phone or at a branch, and give the check number, amount, payee and date. Banks usually charge a fee. Under the Uniform Commercial Code a written stop payment order lasts 6 months and can be renewed; an oral one lapses after 14 days unless you confirm it in writing.
What the bank needs
- Check number (the most important detail)
- Exact amount
- Payee name and the date on the check
- Your account number and the reason (lost, stolen, dispute)
If any detail is wrong, the bank may not catch the check. Look it up in your check register first.
The rules
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Before the bank has paid or certified the check |
| Oral order | Lapses after 14 days unless confirmed in writing (UCC § 4-403) |
| Written order | Effective for 6 months, renewable |
| Fee | Set by your bank; often around $25 to $35 per check |
| Cashier’s and certified checks | Usually can’t be stopped |
Stop payment or void?
If the check never left your hands, you don’t need a stop payment. Just void it and record it in your register. Stop payment is for checks that were sent and may be lost, stolen or disputed.
After a stop payment
- Tell the payee, and if you still owe them, send a new check with a new number.
- If the check was stolen, also report it as possible check fraud.
- A stop payment doesn’t cancel a debt. If you stop a check to someone you owe, they can still pursue the payment.
- Watch for the check after 6 months; a bank may pay an old check in good faith (see how long is a check good for).
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Print a checkQuestions
Can I stop payment on a check that has already cleared?
No. Once the bank has paid it, a stop payment no longer works. If it was fraud, report it to your bank right away.
Does the payee find out?
Yes, when they try to cash or deposit it, the check is returned marked “payment stopped”.
Can I stop a mobile deposit check I received?
No. Only the account holder who wrote the check can stop payment.
Checked against UCC § 4-403 and bank disclosures, November 2026. Fees vary by bank.