Okay, I am laughing my butt off. We got a wedding present today in the form of a check (very much welcome to fund our honeymoon and Oh God The Bathroom Is A Horror renovation fund). The check was made out to "Tim and Steph." That's it. No last names.
I don't think our bank is going to accept it.
t sarcastic understatement
I'm tempted to scribble my last name after "Steph" and then go to the bank with Tim and photo ID for both of us and explain we're engaged and...can we PLEASE deposit it?
Although I think altering a check is illegal.
You never read this.
Do you have a joint account? I just endorse checks 'For Deposit' with the account number on the back no matter how they are made out. They are pretty much processed by machine now anyway. Usually I make deposits via ATM.
We don't have a joint account yet. I was hoping that scribbling my last name on the check would let me deposit it into my account. (I'm not greedy; it's just because it's made out to "Tim and Steph," so there's room after my name. If it was made out to "Steph and Tim," then Tim could scribble his name.)
I do what Laura does.
I get every variation of spelling on my clients' checks. The banks take them all. I even deposited a check made out to Bartleby Mylast-name once!
You can scribble your name, and if your bank has ATM deposits, no ID. You'll be getting a lot of checks, and the account is in both your names, right?
I used to sign D's names on checks, and my handwriting is nice, and his is a scrawl -- no problem.
As noted, Teppy, if you deposit it through the ATM they don't give a shit.
the account is in both your names, right?
We don't have a joint account yet. We're still very roommate-y about money. ("It's your week to buy groceries!" "Well, I paid for the pets' vet trip, so I'm taking that out of what I owe you for August's bills!")
One of you would have to deposit it, though. I'm not sure I'd try adding your last name on the front, though -- I'd do what Laura suggested.
I'd say sign it, have Tim sign it, and deposit it into the ATM. See what happens. But you're going to want to get a joint account soon, because it will become a giant pain in the ass.
Just sign and deposit. It will not be an issue, IME.
I am officially a danger to myself. Last night in bed I stretched--just a normal, full body stretch--but I must have been at a weird angle, because I managed to PULL A GROIN MUSCLE. Seriously, my body is fired. I could barely walk today.
