Bad Check Laws In Missouri

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Below are the civil and criminal penalties for writing a bad check in Missouri as covered under Revised Statutes Chapter 570 - Stealing and Related Offenses, Section 570.120.

If the defendant makes good on the dishonored check (plus service charge, not to exceed twenty five dollars, plus an amount equal to the actual charge by the depository institution for the return of each unpaid or dishonored instrument) within ten days after receiving a notice of non-payment, then it may result in dismissal of any charges filed.


Civil Penalties: Greater of triple face amount owed or $100. Damages should not exceed $500, plus attorney fees.

Criminal Penalties: Passing bad checks is a class A misdemeanor, unless the face amount of the check or the aggregated amounts is five hundred dollars or more, or the issuer had no account with the drawee or if there was no such drawee at the time the check was issued, in which cases passing bad checks is a class C felony. In addition to all other costs and fees allowed by law, each prosecuting attorney or circuit attorney who takes any action pursuant to the provisions of this section shall collect from the issuer in such action an administrative handling cost. The cost shall be twenty-five dollars for checks of less than one hundred dollars, and fifty dollars for checks of one hundred dollars but less than two hundred fifty dollars. For checks of two hundred fifty dollars or more an additional fee of ten percent of the face amount shall be assessed, with a maximum fee for administrative handling costs not to exceed seventy-five dollars total. In addition to the administrative handling cost, the prosecuting attorney or circuit attorney shall collect an additional cost of five dollars per check.

For more information on bad check laws and for criminal and civil penalties in other states for writing bad checks, please read Bad Check Laws

Check with your state statutes for the most current information on Missouri bad check laws. This information can also be found at ( http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c500-599/5700000120.htm ).

You may want to also read Getting A Checking Account While On The Chex System

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Although all information has been written in good faith and has been reviewed, please email us at [email protected] to report any inaccuracies.