What happens if you sign a blank check?

1 Answer. After signing a check, one should never leave the amount payable blank. If a bank is presented with the check, the bank will honor the check as long as sufficient funds are available in the account.

Is it illegal to fill out a blank check?

California Penal Code 475 PC prohibits you from having in your possession an unfinished check with the intent to fill it in yourself and use it. The law states that it doesn’t matter if the check you had in your possession was real or fake, completing it with fraudulent intentions is illegal.

What can a criminal do with a blank check?

A criminal can use this information to literally steal your identity by applying for a credit card or loan in your name, or even open a new checking account. Don’t leave blank spaces on the payee and amount lines.

What does it mean to write a blank check?

1 : a signed check with the amount unspecified. 2 : complete freedom of action or control : carte blanche.

What do you do if someone steals a blank check?

What can I do? Contact your bank or credit union right away. State law generally provides that you are not responsible for a check if someone forged the signature of the person to whom you made out the check. Tell your bank or credit union what happened and ask for the money to be restored to your account.

What is a blank check in government?

In politics, people often accuse governments of doing things (specifically, many times, declaring wars) with a blank check, meaning that they have not properly planned out how to pay for something. To declare war with a blank check is costly for taxpayers.

Are you liable for stolen checks?

Banks are supposed to have measures in place to detect forgery and the ability to recognize the signatures of their customers. Therefore, a forged check that a bank paid is presumed to be the bank’s mistake and it’s considered liable for returning the funds to their rightful owner.

What are the laws for forgery of a check?

Check fraud laws may also vary state to state. Depending on the severity of the crime, the law may consider the forger guilty of a misdemeanor or felony. In court, check fraud or forgery must be proven with the intent to defraud another person or institution.

What happens if you get caught writing a bad check?

Writing a bad check with fraudulent purposes is a serious offense accompanied by serious check fraud penalties for those found guilty.

What happens when a person is charged with check fraud?

When a person is charged with check fraud, the bank involved in the matter usually presses charges against the fraudulent party. Although there have been some misdemeanor charges brought on, since most check fraud involves large sums of money and frequent instances of deception, most cases are considered felonies.

Is it a felony to pass around large checks?

However, if the perpetrator passes around large checks or numerous checks in a short period of time, the felony degree can be increased. There are some defenses possible when one faces a check fraud or bad check lawsuit including: