How to Endorse Checks Payable to Multiple People

Who Signs a Check Made Out to Two or More People?

Checks are almost always payable to a specific person or organization, but sometimes a single check is made out to multiple people. For example, a check might go to a married couple, several roommates, or any other set of joint owners. The wording on those checks is important, and it dictates how to handle the check.

The key is whether the word "and" or "or" appears between each person's name:

  • “And” means that everybody named on the check must sign.
  • "Or" usually allows only one of the payees to sign.

If you ever studied symbolic logic or computer programming, you're probably already familiar with that concept.

"And" Means Everybody

Everybody named on the payee line must sign for checks that use “and.” For example, both John and Jane should sign a check made payable to "John and Jane Doe."

When to sign: Banks need to verify the identity of everybody endorsing a check. If a check is payable to two parties and you’re depositing the funds into an account with the same two names, there’s hardly any risk. But if somebody wants to cash the check, there’s a risk that one person will forge everybody else’s signature and run off with the money. Additionally, banks might have specific rules for when the names on the check don’t match the names on an account.

All together? Some banks require that all of the payees endorse the check together, in front of a bank employee. Everybody needs to bring valid identification to prove that they’re allowed to endorse that check. Other banks can accept a check when just one of the payees has an account. As you might imagine, banks are especially careful with high-dollar checks. For a five-dollar check, one person can often endorse and deposit without the hassle of getting everybody together.

Deposits are easier: If the plan is to deposit the check as opposed to cashing it, the process should be easier. That’s especially true when all of the payees own an account together (for example, a joint account for a married couple, and a check written using those same names). It may even be possible for one person to deposit the check without both signatures.

"Or" Means Anybody

In most cases, checks made payable to multiple parties using "or" can be signed by just one party. For example, a check made payable to "Jane or Pat Doe" can be signed by either Jane or Pat. However, certain cases require the signature of all payees.

If a check is especially large, or it's part of an insurance or legal settlement, speak with your bank and ask an attorney in your state how to handle the payment. It might be wise—or a requirement—to get everybody's signature on the check.

What if It’s Not Clear?

Some checks do not specify “and” or “or” anywhere. What happens then? The answer is probably not as clear as you’d like.

As far as the law is concerned, you can often treat the check as if it says “or.” The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which sometimes serves as a template for how states handle these transactions, says that “ambiguous” checks can be negotiated by anybody named on the check.

Bank policy overrides: Your bank doesn’t have to follow UCC guidance. Banks can be extra careful with these checks to protect themselves from losses. Some banks have a policy that requires everybody to endorse the check when there’s any doubt about the check writer’s intentions. They might even require that everybody be present to sign in front of a bank employee—preventing you from just mailing it in or depositing at an ATM.

If you're not sure what to do, you'll have to make some decisions. One option is to try your luck and simply attempt to deposit or cash a check with just one payee's signature.

The risk is that the bank will reject your deposit and require you to get the missing signatures before you re-deposit. That process can take several days or weeks, which means you won't get the money quickly.

A safer approach is to contact the banks involved (the bank that the check is drawn on, and the one you’re depositing to) and ask what they require. Don’t be surprised if you get conflicting answers from different people—bank policies aren't always clear or well-known. If possible, talk with somebody who will actually handle the deposit, such as a teller or branch manager.

You can always try: In some cases, checks will be accepted with a single signature—even when bank policies require multiple signatures—because the missing signatures go unnoticed. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide what’s best for you. Weigh the alternatives, considering how easy it is to get everybody’s signature and whether or not you can tolerate delays if the bank comes back and wants more signatures. That said, committing fraud is always a bad idea, so don't take money without permission or do anything that you know is wrong.

Writing Checks to Multiple People

If you're writing a check to more than one person, keep in mind that you can make it relatively easy or difficult for them to deposit the funds. The right choice depends on what you hope to accomplish, how much you trust the two (or more) people, and other factors like legal and tax issues.

  • “Or” makes it easy: If you want to make it easy on the recipients and you're not worried about one of them secretly pocketing the funds, using "or" between names allows the most flexibility.
  • “And” keeps everybody informed: If you want more certainty that everybody is aware of the check, it's better to use "and." This might (or might not) slow things down, but that might be a good thing.

Wedding gifts: If you're writing a check to newlyweds, choose carefully. One or both parts of the lucky couple may change their last name. Money is always a nice gift, but several complications can arise if you write a check out to both people using "and":

  • One of them might change their name, and it will no longer match the name on the check.
  • You might assume that one of them is changing their name, but that's not accurate.

In many cases, newlyweds can deposit these checks even if the names don't match perfectly. Banks see this fairly often. But depositing the funds might require a trip to the branch (or a few additional documents and phone calls). 

To make a deposit as easy as possible, write the check using “or,” or ask the couple how they prefer to receive gifts.