Blog

What are certified funds? See which payments qualify, who decides (state law, a contract or the seller) and how to confirm the money is real before you accept.

Need a copy of a cancelled check? Learn how to request the front and back from your bank, which rules back you, and which copy fits taxes, audits and disputes.

Do you need a W-9 before paying a contractor? See what the IRS says, how 24 percent backup withholding works, the 1099-NEC threshold and a simple checklist.

Can a minor write a check or cash one? See what the UCC infancy defense means, how the age of majority varies by state and what to ask your bank first.

Can you cash or deposit an out of state check? See what the Federal Reserve says about holds, when a bank can say no and how a small business should handle one.

A remotely created check is made by the payee with no signature from you. Learn how to spot one, what the rules say and what to do if one is unauthorized.

What order do banks pay checks in? Your bank decides. See what the UCC, FDIC and OCC say, a worked example, and how to protect your balance in 2026.

Holding a check from a closed account? See what happens after you deposit it, who still owes the money and what the payee and the writer should do next.

Can you deposit a check without endorsing it? Often yes under UCC 4-205, but your bank decides. See when a signature is still needed and what to do next.

Can you cash a check after someone dies? It depends on who died, the writer or the person named on the front. See the UCC 4-405 rule and clear next steps.