How to Get a Certified Check

You might start by asking your bank if you can get a certified check. Banks primarily offer two different types of checks that go beyond the standard checkbook: certified checks and cashier's checks. It can be rare for a bank to offer both types, and plenty of banks have switched over to cashier's checks only, which is one reason that it makes it challenging to learn how to get a certified check. In order to explore whether your existing financial institution will give you a certified check, contact them directly or visit the local branch. 

Determine if there are any specific instructions or requirements to get a certified check. At that point, if they approve that they're able to help you get a certified check, you can write the check in front of the teller, provide your identification to the teller, and then wait as the teller marks or stamp your checks as certified once they have verified the funds. 

It's a good idea to keep the receipt for your certified check until the check clears your account. There are often fees that are associated with certified checks, and you'll want to keep a copy of this as well in the event that you have to go back to the bank and deal with any problems linked to your certified check.

A certified check is one that is guaranteed by the bank when it has been written by the account holder and followed through with the bank's processes. This means that you will write a check similar to how you draw one from your own pocketbook, but the check amount is frozen in your account once the bank certifies it. This way, the check has no chance of bouncing whenever it is deposited. 

Personal checks are not guaranteed, which is a reason why someone such as a landlord requesting a security deposit or first month's rent may demand a certified check. The biggest benefit for people to use certified checks is that these are guaranteed funds. This could come up in the context of your personal injury lawsuit, for example, if you agree on a settlement amount with the other parties involved in the case. 

You may want to receive a certified check so that you don't have to worry about whether or not the check will clear. In this case, it is also beneficial for you to understand how to get a certified check and the process for getting one approved and paid into your account, especially if you begin to use the funds to pay off things such as medical bills. 

A personal injury lawyer, such as those working at Morgan & Morgan, can help you with this and other aspects of your personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury lawyer can answer your questions for the duration of your entire lawsuit, especially as it relates to payments or certified checks.

One of the biggest challenges to know about before requesting a certified check at your bank is that you cannot stop this payment after you have handed over the check. This is because the bank is certifying and guaranteeing those funds. The funds are frozen immediately after you write the check and will be released to the person paid when they cash or deposit the check. 

One other potential downside is that certified checks typically come with fees, although these are usually not very high. 

It is also important to note that, while certified checks provide guaranteed and secured funds, they are not impossible to copy. If you're the one sending the check, however, you do not need to worry about this. If you have requested payment in the form of a certified check, make sure that you exercise caution and take your time if you do not know the check sender. If you are worried that you've received a certified check that may be fraudulent, look for anything off about the check, such as typos or the bank's information like its address. You should be able to identify this online.

Certified checks are very familiar to cashier's checks because both of these guarantee payments and are considered official checks. Similarly, you have to go to your credit union or bank to get a cashier's check. The structure behind the scenes, however, is the big difference between a cashier's check and a certified check. With certified checks, the bank verifies that your bank account has the proper amount of funds, then holds those funds frozen for a certified check payment. 

With cashier's checks, you make payments to the bank for the check amount, and then the bank draws those funds from its own accounts when the cashier's check gets deposited. Money orders are another alternative if you don't want to go through what it takes to learn how to get a certified check. These are more broadly available since you can get them at retail stores, post offices, and money transfer companies. 

These may still come with fees, however. Certified checks can give peace of mind to both the sender and the recipient. With the additional step of a bank stamp of approval, both parties can feel confident about the legitimacy of the transaction. 

However, if you receive a certified check and are concerned about whether or not it can be used or is safe enough because you are not familiar with the person involved, it's a good idea to allow some extra time to go by before using any of the funds from the certified check. 

Since a certified check is essentially guaranteed by the bank because of the process required to get it, it does not bounce. This is why you must be careful of getting and giving a certified check to someone else since they will be able to cash it right away. You cannot put a stop payment on a certified check. 

As the recipient of a certified check, it can make you feel much more comfortable to work with someone that you don't know. For example, imagine that you are selling something substantial, such as a boat or another vehicle. You want to make sure that the check goes through because you may only meet this buyer once. Asking for a certified check increases the chances of the deal going through with someone who has the appropriate funds to cover the entire transaction, and this also makes it easier for you to receive the funds immediately. 

If you are concerned about how to proceed with a personal injury lawsuit in which you recovered compensation and may be paid out through a certified check, contact Morgan and Morgan. We understand every aspect of personal injury claims, from filing your lawsuit all the way through to securing payment for your compensation.

If you're unsure of your next steps in any legal matter involving payments or a certified check, or if you want to discuss what is required to file a personal injury lawsuit, you need to work with an attorney who is familiar with these complex issues. Our lawyers know common pitfalls in personal injury claims and will help you create a strategy to avoid them.