How to Sign a Check Over to Someone Else (2026)

When you receive a check made out to you, you are the payee. Under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), you can endorse that check and transfer it to a third party by writing a special endorsement on the back. The third party then becomes the new payee and may deposit or cash the check.

This process is sometimes called a "third-party check" or a "check-over endorsement." Businesses and landlords frequently accepted these in the past. Today many banks restrict or refuse third-party checks because they carry a higher fraud risk — the original payee may have already tried to deposit the check electronically before signing it over. If you simply want to give someone else your routing information, a voided check is safer.

Follow these steps precisely. Using the wrong endorsement format may cause the bank to reject the check.

1. Flip the check over and locate the endorsement area on the back — typically a box labeled "Endorse Check Here."
2. Write "Pay to the order of [Full Name of New Payee]" in the endorsement area. Use the new payee's full legal name exactly as they would sign it or as it appears on their ID.
3. Sign your name directly below that line, exactly as your name appears on the front of the check in the "Pay to the Order Of" field. Your signature confirms you are the original payee authorizing the transfer.
4. Do not sign below the printed line marked "Do Not Write/Stamp Below This Line" — that area is reserved for bank processing equipment.
5. Have the new payee sign below your endorsement if the bank requires it. Some banks require the new payee to also endorse the check when they present it for deposit.

For a full guide to signing the back of a check, see how to endorse a check to someone else.

Many banks and credit unions restrict or outright refuse third-party checks due to fraud concerns. A common scenario involves mobile check deposit: the original payee deposits the check via smartphone, then signs it over to a second person who also tries to deposit it — resulting in double payment.

Before signing a check over, call the bank or credit union where the new payee holds an account and ask whether they accept third-party endorsed checks and what documentation they require. Some banks may require both parties to be present in person with valid photo ID. If you are sending a check to someone remotely, digital transfer options through Venmo or Zelle may be simpler.

Third-party checks carry elevated risk for both parties. If the check is fraudulent, stolen, or already deposited, the bank may reverse the transaction and hold the new payee responsible for the returned funds — even if the new payee acted in good faith.

Check fraud involving endorsement tampering is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 513. If you are unsure whether a check is legitimate, do not sign it over. Consider asking the original issuer to void the check and reissue it directly to the new intended payee instead. If you need to void a check, that process simply requires writing VOID in large letters across the front.

In many situations, simpler alternatives exist. If someone owes you money and you want to pass a check you received to them instead, consider cashing the check at your own bank first, then sending the cash or using a digital payment method such as Zelle, Venmo, or bank transfer.

If a check was issued to the wrong person's name, contact the check issuer (the person or business that wrote it) and ask them to issue a new check made out directly to the correct payee. This eliminates the third-party endorsement risk entirely. You can also learn how to write a check correctly to avoid naming errors on future payments you issue. If the amount is large, review how to write a check with thousands and cents to ensure the written amount line is filled in without ambiguity. Also keep in mind that checks have an expiration date — typically six months — so a check that has been held for an extended period may no longer be negotiable regardless of endorsement. If you need a more reliable payment method for large amounts, a money order does not expire and is widely accepted where third-party checks are refused.