What Is Joint Endorsem*nt?
A joint endorsem*nt can berequired on a check presented for deposit or cashing that has been made out to two or more individuals. The purpose of the joint endorsem*nt is to prevent one individual from depositing or cashing a check without the knowledge or permission of the other person to whom the check is made out.
Key Takeaways
- A joint endorsem*nt is required for checks in which the beneficiaries are two or more parties.
- Based on legal convention, if the two payee names on a check are separated by the word "and" or any symbol or abbreviation of the word "and," then the bank can require joint endorsem*nt.
- In instances where the two payee names are separated by the word "or," then a signature from either one of the parties will do.
- Tax refund checks generally require joint endorsem*nts.
Understanding Joint Endorsem*nt
Rules on joint endorsem*nts vary by state, bank, and even the type of check presented. For example, when checks are made out to a married couple and deposited into their joint account, many banks will not require both spouses to endorse the check; after all, the money is going into an account to which they share access. On the other hand, most banks will require checks issued by the U.S. government, such as tax refund checks, to be jointly endorsed, even for deposit into a joint account.
The Details Make a Difference
The need for a joint endorsem*nt can be determined by the way the check is written. According to legal convention, if the two payee names on the check are separated by the word "and" or any symbol or abbreviation of the word "and," then the bank can require joint endorsem*nt. Thus a check made out to "Jane Doe and John Doe," "Jane Doe & John Doe," or "Jane Doe + John Doe" would call for a joint endorsem*nt. On the other hand, if the payee names on the check are separated by a simple comma, such as "Jane Doe, John Doe," then either party could endorse the check. Note that all banks may not follow these conventions and could possibly demand a joint endorsem*nt in any case.
In some instances, both parties for a joint endorsem*nt cannot be present together at the same time to endorse the check. For example, a recently-divorced couple in which one of the partners has obtained a restraining order against the other might present a problem for the bank because it is difficult to verify or ask for signatures for a check. In such cases, a bank works with both parties independently or asks for a reissue of the joint check, made out separately to each individual.
Joint Endorsem*nts inLandlord-Tenant Transactions
The issue of joint endorsem*nts often comes up in landlord-tenant relations because many living situations involve roommates who share bills and responsibilities but who are not married or otherwise related. When a landlord returns a security deposit to tenants, the check may be written out to both, or all, the tenants listed on the lease, using some version of "and" between the names. Often the letters JT are appended to the names, meaning "joint tenants." A problem arises when two unrelated roommates have separate bank accounts, since the landlord's check can only be deposited into one account. In this case the refund check must still be jointly endorsed by both tenants before it can be deposited in one of the tenants' bank accounts. The depositor would then presumably write a separate check back to the other tenant.
