How to Properly Sign a Check: A Step-by-Step Guide

The person writing a check must sign it in the lower right-hand corner.

As the range of ways to pay for goods or services has expanded, the practice of writing a check has declined. Consumers may make purchases and submit payments for monthly bills — including those for houses, automobiles, credit cards and utilities — online from their personal computers, laptops or smartphones. Still, an occasion that requires a hand-written check may arise from time to time.

Step 1

Enter the date on which the check is being written on the short line in the upper right-hand corner.

Step 2

Spell out the name of the recipient along the line preceded by "Pay to the order of."

Step 3

Enter the amount of money the check represents — using digits — in the window to the right of the dollar sign.

Step 4

Spell out the amount of money the check represents on the next line, at the right of which appears the word "Dollars."

Step 5

Make a brief note of the purpose of the check along the line in the lower left-hand corner preceded by the word "For."

Step 6

Enter you signature — consistent with the signature as you wrote it on the signature card when you opened your checking account — in the line in the lower right-hand corner of the check.

Tip

A pen with blue or black ink is recommended for check writing.

To endorse a check written to you, hold the check so that it is right side up facing you. Flip the check over from the bottom and turn it clockwise. Enter you signature between the wording "Endorse here" and "Do not sign/write/stamp below this line."

Warning

Never write a check using a pencil.

Things You'll Need

• Blank check

• Black or blue pen