Weddingbee boards

I discovered an interesting legal block to cashing wedding checks, and I thought I'd impart that information to you all.  Different banks probably have different policies, but at my bank at least, the name(s) that the check is written out to makes a huge difference.

People wrote out checks to us in several different ways, including:

"Jen Maiden"
"Jen NewName"
"Jen and Hubby NewName"
"Mr. and Mrs. NewName"
"Jen Maiden or Hubby NewName"

I went alone to my bank to cash all these checks.  I found out the hard way that if the check said "and," then I wasn't allowed to cash it by myself.  We either had to create a joint bank account, or Hubby had to come to the bank and show them his ID and sign the check in their presence.

If the check had "Jen NewName," then I had to wait until my name had been legally changed at the bank.  The steps to do that are: getting a copy of the marriage license, then changing my name at the social security office, then changing it at the DMV, and THEN changing it at the bank.  So any checks with "Jen NewName" weren't cashable until all those steps were completed a few weeks after the wedding.

If the check had "Jen Maiden" there was no problem cashing it.

If the check had "Jen Maiden or Hubby NewName," there was also no problem because it had the magic word "or."  No joint bank account, name change, or any other paperwork required.

Wow, that is really interesting.  Thanks for sharing this important information!

I really wish people wouldn't think it was cute to write down the "new name" on a check.  We got a few of those and since I still haven't changed my name we've had to go back and ask them to void that check and write a new one.  It's annoying and embarrassing.

Yep...I got to go through that lovely process.  Only, my DH wasn't/isn't living with me, so he couldn't just pop in the bank to open an account.  Thankfully, I have power of attorney for him, so I could create an account in his name...but it was still a hassle.

this is a good post. I actually hope we get cash rather then checks :)

I think there is a difference between cashing the check and depositing it. I can see how there would be hassles with cashing it, but no issues with depositing.

This was a very informative post! Thanks for sharing!

Yeah, that is a big hassle! I guess since I work at a bank, it just seems like common sense to me!  But before working here, it would be so confusing!!

@Mrs.KMM: Sometimes it can take up to 14 days for the money to post to your account if the person writing the check banks differently than you do...they have to verify funds & what not.

Thanks for the super informative post, OP.

I opened up a new bank account just to beat the system on this one... My military ID has my married name even though i haven't changed it through social securtiy, dmv etc..

So DH and I went and set up a joint account with my married name, just to ensure we didn't have any problems. 

LOL at the idea of depositing the money and withdrawing later... I should have thought of that!  My bank seems to have been one of the pickier ones.  It was just annoying to have to make another trip with my Hubby in tow to get the majority of the checks signed!

From now on, when I send checks to newlyweds, I will be sure to use the bride's maiden name so she doesn't have to wait to cash it.  :)

I hadn't put much thought into this! Thank you for posting. We have been considering opening a joint account just for rent money or a small savings, but may come in even handier to have one if we get the "Mr. & Mrs." checks.

The easiest thing as a guest to do is just write it to their current legal names.  Trust me.  The checks that were just made out to me with myfirst hislast are NOT cute.  And at least with our bank, even with a joint account they would not cash any checks that were written like that.  Even with him standing there.  Because in theory myfirst hislast doesn't exist.