How to sign over a check

I'm going to pay a bill using this technique. I'll write a check to myself and then sign it over to the actual payee.

Thank you, I have been wondering how to do that!!!! Never sure if I'm doing it right or not!

So true... I'm 25 and just had to do this for the first time, but had no idea how! Thanks!

Actually I'm 46 and this is my first time. Somebody rammed my car and I was looking at this fat check from the insurance company that I wanted to sign over to the body shop. Embarrasing but true. So thanks!

I'm 36 and felt retarded too until I read your post. Have to sign over a check for a car wreck and never done it before either! Too funny. Googling "how to sign over a check" actually worked!

You are so right! This is something I learned in HS, but hadn't EVER used and needed to use NOW. How stupid do I feel after reading how to do it....DUH!! Thanks for the reality check and hopefully I won't forget when I have to do it in another 10 years!!

I had this exact situation happen to me, I'm 26, and I have to sign an insurance company check over to the body shop, but had NO idea how to do it. Thanks so much for the great info!!

My bank tells me both parties need to be present with ID...what if i just deposit thru the ATM...would they send it back or something?

My bank has told me that, too, but before I knew that, I had deposited a signed-over check at the ATM (they didn't kick it back). My fiance just signed her name, and then I signed mine and deposited it in my account.

Thanks for the instructions. It was exactly what I needed to know!

You just saved me a lot of time. At 35 I've never done it. Thanks for the help!

I Google searched "How to sign over a check" and got your very useful explanation in seconds. I love the internet! Thanks for thinging to post this. You've saved me some embarrasment with the CPA for my church.

Am 29 and it's the first time I've wanted to do this. Amazing -- first hit for "sign over check" and says exactly what I need.

Awesome...My accounting class in high school was a looong time ago. Thanks for the refresher!

In response to your blog How to Sign Over a Check, what if the bank tells you they need ID or that they do not take 3rd party checks. Is it illegal for them to do this?

Hoo*rah!

Great post! I have to sign over a check to a collision shop. Now I can sign with confidence. (lol)

i've always wondered how to do that...thanks!!!

Even when you know the answer it helps to see it in print,
Thanks

To those asking about banks needing ID, they shouldn't need to see the ID of the person signing over the check any more than they need to see the ID of the person who wrote the check.

Another useful endorsement variation: if you need to endorse a check to put in an ATM, deposit box, or to send with someone to the bank, you can write "for deposit only" with your signature and it cannot be cashed, only deposited into your account. If it's stolen, it'll be useless.

It seems like every time I do this, it ends up being a hassle. One time the bank made my friend bring me physically into the branch to show them ID and prove that I signed over the check. Another time, the bank wouldn't cash the check I signed over to someone else because it "looked forged."

So just be prepared for a little inconvenience in case the banks come asking for more than just the signed-over check.

I usually sign at the top, then write PAY TO THE ORDER OF SO-AND-SO underneath my signature, so I guess the order doesn't matter all that much.

Oh, and NEVER EVER EVER try to sign over a check in person at the bank. Just deposit it at the ATM. Don't tell me why a bank should have one set of rules for ATM transactions and another for people who go up to the teller, though (but this is already true for endorsing checks, period -- many banks require you to do it in plain sight of the teller, while an ATM deposit makes no such requirement).

My guess is that whereas they can try to dissuade you from cross-endorsing a check in person, the ATM deposit is a fait accompli. Trying to return a check that has already been signed over and deposited is a logistical nightmare, so they have little choice but to let you do it.

So what have we learned here? Robots are more customer-friendly than humans. And that if you need to launder money, always use an ATM...

Most of the time this will either be a hassle or not allowed. My bank doesn't do third party checks at all.

First of all, the reason the financial institution will ask to see the ID of both the original payee and the substitute payee is to verify if in fact the person who signed over the cheque was in fact the original payee. If the cheque fails that basic test, then it's game over, and the cops are behind you before you know it. Basically same rationale as with the substitute payee.

Personally, I would never even begin to entertain this transaction - there is far too much risk attached, and it is more than likely the cheque will be charged back.

Why wouldn't someone just cash the cheque themselves and give the other person cash (or cheque, bank draft, etc)?

LOL! Are all these people who claims that just needed to sign over a check to a collision repair shop for real, or is it subtle humor? If the latter it's hilarious!

A few notes however:
Writing "For Deposit Only" is considered "advice" and is not binding on the bank - at least, according to a couple tellers I have spoken with.

Also, supposedly you can cash a check without a signature if you endorse it something like "Lack of signature guaranteed" you can still cash it.

But I did learn something. Before I read this post I always thought if you had a check from the insurance company you would have to deposit it in your bank account, and then write a check on your own account for the repairs. But I guess that wouldn't work out to well if, say, you were cashing a check for a Nigerian bank clerk and then forwarding on the money to somewhere else...

Looks like I'm not the only one who googled this. This weekend I installed a ceiling fan and learned how to sign over a check...all thanks to the internet...and those who take the time to put the information out there. Thanks.

Sweet! Thanks a ton...I didn't even know how to cash a check much less than paying someone else with it. Thanks.

cool - thank you

Along the same lines, my brother just got the check for his tuition loan. It's in his name and my mom's. Can he sign it and then she sign it and deposit it into her bank account? Will they require him to be present or should she just do it at the ATM? Thanks

You can also just use a "Blank Endorsement" by simply signing the back of the check. It then turns the check into bearer paper and anyone can negotiate it. Writing pay to the order of with a name is called a special endorsement.

Writing "for deposit only" and putting your name is a restrictive endorsement and the bank should only allow it to be deposited in your account. I see nothing in the UCC about this being advice, it is binding, anyone else who tries to deposit the check is not a holder in due course and can not deposit it in their account.

does this still work if say you owe a friend 50 dollars...but the banks are closed so you couldnt cash the check the day you owed the money...you gave your friend the check and followed the same procedure?

Thank you!

I had to do this for my dentist. I had dental work that cost about $4500. I had put money into my Flexible Spending Account for this purpose. So when I claimed it, the FSA sent me a check to pay my dentist, but the dentist doesn't take personal checks over $100. So depositing it in my checking acct and writing a check was out. And I couldn't use my debit card for a transaction that big. So the easy option was to sign the check over directly to my dentist so they could deposit in their bank. It may be more likely to be successful if the check you are signing over is from a bank or well-known entity than from Joe Shmoe. Not sure, but I've never had a problem either way (always at an ATM though when I'm on the receiving end)

lol, you are the 1st google result for "sign over a check"

haven't done this in years, glad to find such a readable answer from clicking "i'm feeling lucky"

Thanks for the information, but this method apparently no longer works at Bank of America. I tried this with a check made out to my business partner, and the bank flatly refused to accept it. The check must be made out to me. Period. End of discussion. As far as BOA is concerned, the practice of signing a check over to someone does not exist.

Thanks! I had forgotten how to do this, it was the 1st time in years that I had to deposit a check that my brother signed over to me.

JK - I'm surprised by your BofA. I did this at
Wells Fargo today with no problem

Thank you, you have been helpful. I hope it works though because I'm 16 and everyone keeps asking for an ID/Drivers Card

I learned this a long time ago, but completely forgot how to do it. Thanks for the refresher!

From one helpless 24 year old to another- thanks for the tip!