How to Void a Check: 5 Easy Steps

19 January, 2026

On the other hand, if a check already has a signature before “void” is written across its face, this is fine. In most cases, you should use blue or black ink to write “void”. If you’ve already sent the check, contact your bank immediately to request a stop payment.

Ukrposhta is the national postal system provider of Ukraine and it was established in 1947. If you want to send mail to multiple people in the same household or business, you should write each name in separate lines of the residential and business addresses. In the residential address, instead of the recipient’s name, write the office and department name on the first line and second line respectively. In the second line write the military unit number. In the first line, write the rank and full name of the person. In the residential address, instead of the street address, write the term “А/Я” and then the PO box number.

This can actually be a bit of a problem for them when they go to deposit the check if the bank account they want to use for that check is only in Mrs. Johnson’s name. Your paper checks all have your bank information on them—the name of your bank or credit union and your account and routing number. So, if a written check is full of the monetary amount you write on it, voiding the check makes that check financially empty. A voided check is deliberately canceled, marked “VOID” to prevent any financial transactions.

Before you can learn how to void a check you need to understand what this is.
The process of voiding a check can vary slightly depending on the type of account you have.
Information, including hypothetical projections of finances, may not take into account taxes, commissions, or other factors which may significantly affect potential outcomes.
To send a voided check to someone just ask them for the mailing address you should use to mail the void check to them.
We collect address data from multiple patients, clinical records, and providers and attempt to combine them into one.
Learn what a void check is, when you need one, and how to properly void a check for direct deposit or automatic payments.

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Since checks contain sensitive financial information, there are security factors to consider, especially when disposing of a voided check.
View the Chase Community Reinvestment Act Public File for the bank’s latest CRA rating and other CRA-related information.
You can ask your bank to draw you up a “counter check”, a special type of check that can be officially voided by the bank but still includes your important account information.
Checks are still commonly used for rent payments, small business transactions, gifts, and situations where electronic payments aren’t accepted.
Once you have a voided check, make sure to write it down and keep track of where it went in case you get confused later on.
If you need to cancel payment on a check that has already left your hands, you’ll need to contact your bank.

Voiding a check the wrong way can result in delays, confusion, or even identity theft if the check falls into the wrong hands. Making sure your money goes exactly where it should, and nowhere it shouldn’t. And now you are an expert at handling this common financial task. Voiding a check might seem like a small task, but it’s important to manage your finances effectively.

Most charge fees, sometimes up to $30, to cancel a check that would otherwise be debited from your account. After that period, most banks will not cash the check anyway because it is more than six months old. Once you contact the bank, they will put the stop payment order into effect. Most banks and credit unions provide contact information on their credit and debit cards. You will require an account number, the exact amount of the check, and the check number.

Is it safe to send a voided check via email?

We simply don’t use checks to the same degree as we did. Once you’ve voided a check, it’s essentially disabled and cannot be used any longer. You also don’t have to worry about losing a paper check, having a paper check expire and going through the process of requesting another, or any of the other hassle and headache that traditional paper paychecks inevitably bring to the table.

A voided check is basically an ordinary check that an individual marks as invalid. If you aren’t sure of any of this information or get it wrong, the check could still be cashed, and the only way to avoid financial loss would be to freeze the account. Once you have the voided check you need, consider scanning or photocopying it. Ask for a letter, printed on bank letterhead, which lists your account number, routing number, and account type (checking or savings).

How to Void a Check for Different Types of Accounts

This is why it is always a good idea to document your check transactions in your check register so that you will always have information like, the check ID number, the amount, and who you paid. So you wrote a check and gave it or sent it, but now you need to cancel it. By using auto-pay you won’t have to worry free invoice templates about forgetting any bill payment and accruing late fees and hits to your credit score. Voiding the check makes the recipient unable to do this anymore.

Leave the checking account and routing number area clear

Invested Media LLC may have financial relationships with the companies mentioned or seen on this site. When you void something it means you’ve made it empty, of no effect, or null. You will likely need to fill out an online form on your bank’s website, so ensure you have all the relevant information before you begin. You probably won’t use this check for anything, so keeping it is a risk because it can be used for fraudulent purposes. This can speed up the process, and the funds can sometimes be in your account even a few days early. This is the main reason why you should manage them carefully and keep them safe and out of reach.Voiding a check renders it invalid and unusable as a blank check.

For advice from our reviewer on canceling a check after you’ve sent it, read on! Write “VOID” across the front of the check with a blue or black permanent marker. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. With 12 years of experience, Gina specializes in working with smaller companies in every area of accounting, including economics and human resources.

Our suite of security features can help you protect your info, money and give you peace of mind. Choose from business checking, small business loans, business credit cards, merchant services or visit our business resource center. Make purchases with your debit card, and bank from almost anywhere by phone, tablet or computer and more than 15,000 ATMs and 5,000 branches. For extra security, consider using a paper shredder, which makes it difficult to piece the check back together to reveal sensitive information. This may include writing down the wrong amount or making it out to the wrong person.

Becoming financially independent involves knowing how to manage your finances and handle checks. Knowing how to void a check is a small but essential financial skill. Voided or canceled checks are part and parcel of the financial system. You do not have to cover the entire check, and you should avoid the account number if you intend the recipient to gain checking account information.

You cancel a check if you have already sent a check and wish to not let the recipient cash it. However, it happens before the check is cashed. Voiding is normally done before a check is written or the check is filled out. You may be asking yourself why anyone would want to make a check useless. The goal is to make it impossible for someone to use this check fraudulently. If not, shred it to ensure that your account information does not get into the hands of the wrong people.

In case of a PO Box, write А/Я (Ukrainian for Post Office Box), and then the box number. Similarly, when writing the building number, add Kv. Before the street name write Vul.

Voiding a check is generally a straightforward process. They help prevent check fraud by rendering the check unusable for unauthorized withdrawals. See a real filled-out check example and learn with a practical case. Make sure it’s a check you haven’t already filled out or signed. Take a blank check from your checkbook. Morgan Wealth Management Branch or check out our latest online investing features, offers, promotions, and coupons.

It typically serves to share bank account details for electronic transactions and should not be used for deposits, withdrawals, or payments. Since checks contain sensitive financial information, there are security factors to consider, especially when disposing of a voided check. Providing a voided check ensures accurate details, like the routing and account numbers, are transmitted without error. Common reasons include correcting errors on a check, setting up direct deposit, establishing automated payments, or ensuring secure fund transfers. To avoid confusion down the road, record the voided check in your checkbook or online banking software. You may be asked to send a voided check if you want to set up an electronic payment method for certain bills.