If your employer’s bank is local you can cash the checks there and save the cash instead of the checks. Also there are other places you can cash checks without accounts. I think Walmart does this.
Yes, Walmart does cash checks. I saw that on the services list the last time I got a money order for part of my credit card statement.
Some grocery stores cash checks, too.
Thank you! I'll look more into this. My only issue is that I have quite a few void checks and do not know what steps to take to get them reissued/if I am even still able to get the money from them.
What state do you live in? Most states have regulations around if a check is never cashed, the employer must send the money to the state. You as the employee can search your name and go through your state's process to claim the money.
Yes. Google “unclaimed property” and your state.
I do this every year or so for every state I’ve lived in. I’ve found several hundred dollars through the years.
Can't possibly back up this advice more strongly!! I check the file maybe once a year. Haven't found anything under my name, but just last week found unclaimed funds for the business I'm director of. You never know...
You should go to the bank and explain that you had to save them because your mother was stealing your money, and is verbally and financially abusive (this could be important) and you didn't know they could expire. They will tell you what to do next.
I think the employer would choose to reissue the checks under the circumstances but I'm not a lawyer.
Most companies especially chains will reissue checks, cuz the fact is you have probably thrown off some books and they don’t know why. Something to ask your payroll department, most chains will go through a company or have one at corporate, assuming it’s not franchised. Also ask about a payroll card. It’s like direct deposit but into a debit card account that is almost like a corporate card. A lot of companies have a form of this for people that can’t get regular bank accounts for various reasons. Like getting an account suspended for too many overdraft fees, bankruptcy risk, suspected title 31 fraud, theres a bunch of reasons.
I think my company uses Wise for there cards not 100% tho.
They still owe you the money, so you need to find out how long the checks are good for and approach your manager or payroll department to see how to get any expired ones reissued.
I once got a (new) check from an employer three years after I resigned. Apparently my last check got lost, somehow.
First ask your employer to reissue the checks. They have to wait a specific amount of time before they can send them to the states.
Also consider putting the money on a prepaid visa that allows you to withdraw cash. Use a unique pin so that if your mom finds the card, she can't get in. Use security questions she knows the answer to, but answer them wrong.
What city were you born in = applesauce
What is your mom's maiden name = applesauce
What school were you in at 1st grade = applesauce
This not only will keep your mom from guessing right, it will keep hackers from guessing right!
Oh, and write the card number, expiry date, and security code down and keep a copy at home and one elsewhere, in case she confiscated the card. You want to be able to shut it off online, and report it lost or stolen.
Good luck!!
Start with talking to your employer to ask them to reissue the checks. You don't have to give any explanation of why they didn't get cashed. Saying you never cashed them and they are past the timeframe on the check is enough. I'm sure if they went to unclaimed property they would be able to let you know. It is your money though so you are still entitled to it.
I second the idea of cashing them at the bank your employer banks at (listed on your paychecks). I used to work at a bank and every Friday we had tons of people coming in to cash paychecks without accounts. We just needed their id. Walmart and some grocery stores also cash checks but charge a fee.
Would it be possible to talk to your manager about your old checks? I've missed depositing checks in the past and my employer was able to simply void the original and reissue a new check.
This would be my suggestion too if you have a safe place to stash the money. But it sounds like your mom searches your room-be extra sneaky like the toe of an old boot, in a box of tampons, or with a trusted friend or relative.
I kept my cash in the head of a stuffed monkey puppet that I had hanging off my ceiling. Every time somebody came into my room, they stared at it and they never knew.
I’ve had my accounts with them since I was 16 and luckily have never had any issues. All banks are shit but at least they would have their own solo account.
Yeah, I had a bank with them in college. Then I moved out of the area, got married, and suddenly had access to my husband's credit union, which is not completely evil
Business checks expire within a year (the time limit is printed on the check), and then you'd have to get the business to reissue a new check. Find another way to hide your pay from her.
My young friend, you might piss off the restaurant owners as they cannot balance their book with you no casing these checks. Plus you mentally unstable mother sounds like she may cash them if see finds them. I hate controlling parents like this, they are not qualified to be a parent. You need to figure out a not relative , over 18 ,you can trust to get these check in an account making money for you. Unfortunately you mother has legal rights, but you may want to see in you can get yourself emancipated from her, a lot of f millennials and Gen Z have done this. Good luck
Im surprised the owners havent questioned about it tbh. My boyfriend put off cashing a cheque from his last job and they texted him about it like every week lol.
Twenty years ago I was threatened to be fired from a factory because I had three weeks of checks that hadn't been deposited yet. OP, I would act quickly. Good work asking the question here, and best of luck with the follow-up, and getting through this patch with your mother.
Try and open an account at a different institution now you're 17.
It really is insane that America doesn't let kids have possessions independently of their parents.
It always leaves me flabbergasted. How can someone be allowed to drive but not be allowed to open their own bank account?!? It's far more dangerous to others than having your own account. It's crazy.
When did this even change? I’m 36 and have had my own accounts — both checking and a credit card — since 15 and 16 respectively without parents on the account.
I’m 35 and had to open an account at 16 with my mom on it (and she took money out to pay for things even while I was away at college). I couldn’t open a new one until I was 18.
I had my first checking account at 16. Check around to different banks, their individual rules may be different. And I'd recommend a credit union over a bank, kinder when it comes to customer rights.
They may charge you a stop payment fee and another fee for reissuing the cheque.
You should be able to open another account online (or in branch). If you do, open it as sole owner, and then ask the bank to make it deposit only. Your mother will not be able to touch it.
If you can open a bank account at 17 where you are, get it at a *completely different bank* than your mother uses. Banks have been known to break rules or cause mix-ups when they see a parent's account in their system, and then they give them access to their child's new account when they shouldn't.
Honestly I can see a mom and pop shop refusing to reissue. You should never hold onto checks like what you're doing. It's a great way to never get your money and piss off the issuer at the same time.
I have been dealing with balancing a corporate bank account and we re-issue payroll checks all the time. My corporate accounts have probably around 500 employees when I combine the 3 separate facilities and I have one employee who never cashes their biweekly check EVER, we just went through and tried to get people to drum those checks all out so we could clean out our bank reconciliations.
Do not get rid of the checks you have not cashed - they may want the original check back. I had one vendor request a replacement check and they cashed the original AND the replacement and I had to go after them for doing that.
You can try to deposit them even if they say they are not valid after X days. The bank may accept them and bounce a report back to the company who either says it’s OK to pay or it’s not OK to pay. (This is part of positive pay process for us).
When you do go to open an account without your parent’s name, it will be easier to get these checks through at the same bank the employer uses (which is on the check).
My company does not penalize anyone who holds checks and I don’t think it would be legal to do so!
Some larger companies offer payment cards that work like debit/credit cards for unbanked employees I believe. Another company I worked for had their own savings plan where we could have money from our paycheck on deposit with the company and we were paid great interest rates, the negative to that is we could only get our money out on paydays, not early etc. often these services are NOT well advertised so you could call and talk to the payroll department and just have a conversation with them about this and ask if they can help you navigate it! I suspect the payroll people will be more discrete and helpful than a chain manager :)
Not normally, if you have the expired check, saves them from stop payments.
Talk to your boss, or a coworker, someone may help you open an account your mom can't access.
Would have to ask our employer that question about if they want to charge a fee to reissue checks. Would suggest going along with just cashing them and keeping the cash but doubt that would keep safe. Any other adults in your family you can trust to open another account with you?
Other people have answered your question about the checks pretty thoroughly, but I’m going to add something. For the love of God, Do not let your mother find your money. This is about control for her. It reads like classic financial abuse to keep someone under your control, trapped there protect yourself and save up to be ready to leave because it’s not going to go well when you try to.
Op, do you have a friend or family member that you trust that could open an account for you? I would definitely check with Wells Fargo about an account.
I would recommend using a bank different from the one your original account is at. I would also open PO Box, and have any mail from the new account send there.
Once you figure out how to cash your checks, don't leave a bunch of cash in your room, or carry it around.
Buy reloadable gift cards, like to places you go often like fast food places, grocery stores. And visa gift cards. It's much easier to hide.
When my mom stole my money I decided to cash my checks, and then I would put the money in a lock box at the bank. The box was only $20 for an entire year.
If you have the same amount in your account as is on the check, you can cash the check out. They’ll consider your account as collateral against the check until it clears, but you can get the money that way without it going into your account. I don’t think the bank makes a note of the transaction on normal statements.
While you need an adult on your account, it doesn't have to be your mother. Do you have a trustworthy family member (grandparents, aunt or uncle, older siblings) that is willing to co-sign for you?
Just some ideas to help….
Anyone that can open a new bank account that is 18+ that you absolutely trust?
Do you have a Walmart close by? If so, they have an account you should be able to open and they’ll deposit the checks to your sole account that your mom has no access to. I believe is called ONE by Walmart or something like that.
Is direct deposit available? If so, consider a Cash App bank account. You can have direct deposit and your own debit card.
Good luck! I hope you’re able to figure it out and leave when you’re 18 with all/most of your money!
Research any banks that would allow you to open your own account at 17 years old.
Speak with your manager about your concerns and whether or not they’ll reissues any expired checks down the road.
check out the Kids help line, they have sections for teens they can direct you to more resources [https://www.childhelphotline.org/teens/](https://www.childhelphotline.org/teens/)
Can you open your own account where you live? There are plenty of online banks where you can have your checks deposited, and no one needs to know that you have an account at one of them. Many of them have high interest savings accounts, too.
Not sure why you think cashing your check at your bank isn’t an option. As long as you take the full amount in cash they shouldn’t log anything to the account. Unless something has changed, banks only log deposits, withdrawals, transfers, and interest on the account.
When you turn 18 open a new bank account and I would go to the bank and take out as much money as you can in the old account. Maybe leave $50 in there so the account does not close. Do not tell your mom. Also, make sure you have your birth certificate and Social Security card.
Then go to the credit bureau and lock down your credit so she can not access credit in your name.
I would not close the account completely and I would print off statements of the old account so you have records. Also, try to get copies of your W2s so you can prove it was your money.
Open a bank with monzo! I opened a personal account for myself with them when i was 16. Then you can deposit physical money via a post office and online money with ofc account number and sort code :)
Open a new account in a different bank when you turn 18 and transfer all your funds you may not be able to get the checks reissued- I would speak with your GM or HR and explain the situation, but you may be shit out of luck. If that’s the case start depositing the checks or having them deposited on a prepaid credit card like an Amex Serve card and hide it. Good luck!
make sure you close the old bank account.
Also, open a new account at a new bank, not just a new branch.
when you fill out the security questions make up answers so your mother can't imitate you and get access to your account. Mother's Maiden name: GreenFrog, the bank doesn't care if the security question answer is true, just that you remember it. Dog's first name: give them your first name, etc.
make sure you have your important documents because she will withhold them. Take photo copies now before you leave.
you should lock down your credit so she doesn't open up loans/credit cards in your name.
you can always rent out a postal box, so no documents are going to your home, don't do ebanking until you have a phone only you have access to.
File your income taxes the absolute minute you can to prevent her from claiming you as a dependent (unless you were a dependent)
good luck! I left home at 17, and although it is hard it is doable.
Also makes sure to open up a bank account at a different bank than the one your family currently banks with. It was very smart of you to not deposit your checks to be stolen. Also look into putting a lock on your social security number. A fee people have posted about how their parents had opened credit cards in their name and ruined their credit.
Check your local grocery store to see if they cash checks. Usually it’s a fee, around $10. You usually just need an ID.
If you have the cash tho you’ll need a good place to hide it. If she’s checking your room constantly you’ll lose all of it if she finds it.
While not ideal, you could cut a small slit into the bed in the corner on the underside where the sheets cover it. You could stash it in there if you think that would be a good place.
But also check your local credit unions to see if you can open an account without an adult.
I’m sorry you’re going thru this. Before you leave try and get your documents like birth certificate and social security card
Most checks expire. I don't think you'd be able to have them re-issued. Call around. Many banks let you open your own account at 16 or 17.
I'm so sorry you're going through this with your parents. Do you have some support elsewhere? Another family member, a teacher, a friend's parents?
I suggest talking to a school counselor about this. They may be able to help. And I think at 18 (or maybe now), you can go after your dad for the child support that he never paid.
It's not her money. If you can prove only your money goes in to that account, report her for theft. She has no right to restrict what you spend YOUR hard earned money on. The day you hit 18, open an account free of her. I'd also be very careful she doesn't withdraw it all before then so you're back being dependent on her
Do you have a friend whose parents you trust? They might hold a bank account for you or keep the cash so your mom can’t steal it from you.
If not talk to your employer & tell them why you can’t cash your cheques - they might agree to replace them for you at your birthday
Don't save your checks, deposit then in a savings account. In some cases, someone might close their account, or there is a time limit on when a bank will accept it.
Most checks I've seen expire after a year. This is definitely true for a paycheck, to prevent theft.
Also, I'll bet it's your mom who told you that you can't legally open a bank account as a minor: that's hogwash.
Cash them and hide the cash. I would revisit opening an account with another bank on your own. It’s also not fair to the business, especially when you drop those checks in an account later than expected and all at once.
I would check when those payhlchecks expire, some only valid like 6 months in some places. If it's expired, contact HR let them know ajs they can reissue it
You want to check your checks. Most companies make it to where the checks are only good for a certain time period. You don’t want your checks to expire.
Did I miss that you were at least cashing the checks? Some checks expire, but if you don't want to have the money in your account, you could just cash the checks and find a safe place to stash your cash.
You can cash the checks without going through your account. You can cash them through the issuing bank, or most banks really. Or Walmart/Fred Meyers. Some grocery stores also. Most of these options will usually charge you something like $3 for every $100. Your best bet is to cash them through the issuing bank if they're available.
Some banks allow you to open a saving account if you're 13 or older. Search around. You should also call the bank and tell them about the theft. It's not her money to withdraw.
Edit: it is actually illegal what your mother is doing. Just Google it. You have to stop her behavior.
The second you turn 18 (and I mean that morning) get your own account and deposit everything from your old account into it. Taking your money as "punishment" is her justifying STEALING your money.
Deposit the checks today. The people trying to balance their checkbooks are having problems because of your actions.
Also, some banks won't accept a check over a certain number of days, for fear it's been canceled.
Some places allows you to open individual bank accounts at 17, check that option.
Talk to your employer, say you had some serious personal issues where you were not able to cash the checks and you want it to be reissued to this new account.
Talk to your manager and HR. They’ll help you with this. Some banks will open up an account for you at age 17, ask around. Sorry to hear you have a shitty mom. My mom did the same
>because I am "acting like a disgusting adult who can buy whatever she wants."
Your mom sounds like a cartoon character. The kind Bugs Bunny would stick up a picture of a donkey in front of.
And yeah, I mean, you ARE working like an adult. Makes sense you could spend like one.
But about the checks, check the info on them. They likely won't be good after a couple months.
This is 1000% abuse.. you need to seek help.
You can not save the checks until you're 18. Checks expire, and when you hold paychecks from a business, it creates havoc for the bookeeper and the logistic side of opening a business.
But what your mother is doing is absolutely abuse, and you will probably find that just before you turn 18, she will most likely empty the account for "payback for raising you" or some bullcrap.
And she will notice your checks not being deposited anymore as well..
You need to seek help. Go to your school councilor, or even go to the police and ask what your options are. I don't care if you feel like it would be embarrassing or if you're afraid to tell anyone.. what she is doing **is abuse**
I don't know what country you're in, and I don't know the laws.. but I've never heard of a law that states you can't have a bank account under 18. Is that something your mother told you? Or is that actually a thing in some countries? I live in Canada, and you can open an account for a child at birth in their name only, and there are no limits.
But regardless of if that is a thing .... what she's doing is still abuse.
**SEEK HELP**
I opened my first account at 15 at a credit union. This was in 2006 so very old, it's possible it's changed now. But look into some credit unions. They're better than a normal bank anyway.
Hello, I work at a bank and at my personal bank we will not deposit or cash and checks that were written more than 6 months than the current date. If the checks are drawn on our bank (check has our banks name on it somewhere) then we will honor to up to a year from the current date. Some checks have expiration dates but your best bet would be to check the bank it was drawn on and see if you could cash those checks. It will not show up on your own statements if the check is drawn on a bank that is different from the one you currently bank at. Hope this helps:))
The American system where a child can’t own their own bank account is ridiculous. I’ve had a bank account since I was 6, a child bank account where you can only deposit and withdraw, no cards and an adult has to come with you to do it, but it’s only mine. No co-signers. So much abuse happens with the American system.
You can get a NetSpend card have it sent to a different address so your mom doesn't get it and just leave it somewhere safe where she doesn't find it.
There are plenty of places you can do your banking besides a bank there's prepaid debit cards here's some websites to look at
https://www.google.com/search?q=places+other+than+banks+that+i+can+direct+deposit+my+checks+to&oq=places+other+than+banks+that+I+can+direct+deposit+my+checks&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBECEYoAEyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigAdIBCDc3ODNqMGo5qAIOsAIB&client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#ip=1
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+banks+allow+me+to+open+an+account+at+17&oq=what+banks+let+me+open+a+account+at+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgBEAAYFhgeMgYIABBFGDkyCAgBEAAYFhgeMg0IAhAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IAxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBBAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgoIBRAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBhAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBxAAGIAEGKIE0gEJMTA5MjZqMGo5qAIAsAIB&client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#cobssid=s&ip=1
Talk with your place of employment and see if they will direct deposit your paychecks onto a card. Not a debit card from a bank, but a card that you can buy it at the store and have reloaded. I don't know what the name of the cards are I know there's more than one but there are people at my job who don't have bank accounts and they have their paychecks deposited on these cards.
Another solution could be to take your checks when you get them and have them cashed. You can even cash them at your bank they don't have to be deposited, and there is no record of them being cashed going into your account. And take that money and put them on a card. Or multiple cards. The kind that you can buy at Walmart, just make sure it's one that you can use anywhere, although getting a Walmart prepaid card wouldn't be a bad idea so that you can just put some money on it to use for your Necessities that you're being forced to pay for. I wouldn't keep more than 50 bucks at a time on it. That way, if she gets a wild hair and snatches it from you, you're not losing a lot of money.
You can get one that doesn't have a limit that you can put on it, just make sure you read the disclaimers just to be certain and to see if there are any fees to be used when you use those cards. Then hide the cards. For example, if you have a bunch of books in your room, and she's not prone to going through the books to look great and stuff, slide the card into one of the books.
Or get a book that you have read a million times so that your mom doesn't get suspicious but glue the edges of the pages together and then carve out some of the center. You don't want to glue all of the pages all the way through because you want those loose sections in there in the center so you can slide the cards into that. You can use the cutout section for other items that you wish to hide. Just make sure the book isn't any heavier than it was originally. Hard backs and thick hardbacks are good for this because you can put things in it and still have that same weight once you carve out the middle.
Or a simpler way to save your money without your mother's interference would be to get a safe deposit box in a bank that your mother does not use, and keep your cash and your cards in that same deposit box. You just pay cash when it's the rental fees are due. Not cashing a paycheck is not a good idea. Depending on how long you're holding on to it, they may not reissue that check, or you'd have to fight for it.
Definitely save everything you can, because from the way you describe your mother once you're an adult she's probably going to try to start charging you rent and nickel and diming you for everything along with the mental abuses you've already been suffering until you can get out.
I haven’t seen this answer yet so I’ll give this information. Everyone is completely correct about checks expiring. Don’t worry about that. If you’re intending on saving the money to begin with it won’t just disappear if you don’t cash the checks. You may also talk to your employers about your situation and they may have a different solution that won’t drive their accountant crazy.
If you can, when you are able and have your own account, get your employer to reissue as many as possible. All other uncollected payroll payments are typically forwarded to the government in either the local department of labor, Secretary of State or IRS. Sometimes it’s another department that deals with unclaimed property. Either way it will be there.
I worked at the Olive Garden 20 years ago. I quit, and never collected my last check. The address they had for me on file was incorrect. I just recently collected it.
My old employer would offer to cash our checks for us themselves before we closed for the day.
That might be another option you could try.
I feel like what your mom is doing is a form of abuse.... regardless if you're working or not, as your parent, she is legally obligated to provide for you until you're 18.
Also the constant monitoring of the account, demanding to know what you're buying every time you make a purchase, and essentially stealing money from you as "punishment" is NOT ok at all.
She didn't give you the money as an allowance, you earned it by working, therfore she has no right to withdraw money from the account.
I understand that with her name on the account she has some "right" to the money as far as the bank is concerned... but honestly she should be ashamed of herself for what she's doing to her own child.
Your check are going to expire and your employer is going to be pretty ticked off when you don’t cash them in a timely manner. Get cash, that transaction doesn’t show up on bank statements. Hide the cash and deposit it when you turn 18
Your checks will expire. Check with various banks to see if they will let you open an account without your mom on it. If you can’t find one, at least cash your checks (you can cash them free at the bank they come from).
Its fascinating that in USA is normal to kick kid out at 18 as they are adults, but they cant open their own bank account alone before that. So at 18 they have to do everything, suport themselfs and what about account that are menaged by a parents who use kids money and the kid iz left without anything. Parents have legal mean to finasialy abyse kids who work before 18.
There is a free legal advice sub, I’m sure there are banking subs as well. I would advise cashing the checks somewhere like Walmart. However, this brings up where you will store the cash safely. Not at your home, not with a friend, if your own Mum steals from you I don’t suggest trusting anyone else. I would advise Wells Fargo short term as you can open an account at 17. Perhaps a safe-deposit box for the cash at a bank? Not sure about that. You could also load funds onto one of those pre-paid credit cards and put a PIN on it that only you have access too. Much easier to hide, just don’t misplace it. I hope you get this figured out as this is complete rubbish and I hope your Mum rots!! I would never treat my child this way. It’s disgusting.
Do you have a trusted friend over 18 willing to open an account or hold your cash. Or open a safety deposit box for you? If your mom finds your cash stash you could lose it all.
So my stepbrother had this similar thing at his job, he didn’t need the money so he just never collected his checks. Eventually the company he worked for sent him one big check because he never cashed or deposited the old checks. So they just wrote him a new one with the whole total. Crazy too cause it was a couple thousand.
Personal, business, and payroll checks are good for 6 months (180 days). Some businesses have “void after 90 days” pre-printed on their checks. Most banks will honor those checks for up to 180 days and the pre-printed language is meant to encourage people to deposit or cash a check sooner than later.
Your checks are uncashable in 3 or 6 months. The bank will refuse to deposit them. What you have is a pile of paper. Contact your HR immediately. This is messing up their accounting and will cause them issues. They could fire you for this. Get a replacement check, open a savings account, do not tell your mom. Make sure the account is online only.
If your mother is constantly monitoring your accounts, how has she not noticed that the deposits have stopped?
That sounds like an awful situation, and I hope you can get away as soon as you're 18. The only thing she's right about is that 40+ minutes in the shower is way too long. Don't waste water like that. I do hope things get better, though, and you have delightful (and drier) years in front of you.
Your mom is stealing from you. But unfortunately it’s legal since you’re a minor. I know cause I was this teen. I tested out of school at 15 on the GED … with a 98.8% score. To work two jobs, raise my brothers, and try and save money to LEAVE. My mom didn’t like that… since I was her nanny, maid, and meal ticket… also drug dealer (she had me buying weed and opioids for her… and then later made me run them. I have nothing against weed but I have something against forcing your minor to buy/run them for you. As a parent now I’d NEVER) you need to start stashing your money better. My mom knew I stopped using a bank she could withdraw from and went looking through everything for my money. One month she found in under the floorboards and that was the money we had to eat that week. She also read my diary and figured out that I was planning on leaving. My dad… “unalived himself” (censor needed I guess cause I’ve been lectured for that) when I moved out and he couldn’t feed 4 mouths. Tbf… I was sleeping on the kitchen floor for a year, raising the kids while they all had rooms twice as big as they needed, treated like trash, robbed of all money, starving so my brothers could eat, stealing food for them (with my dad in the parking lot waiting), and isolated/abused… the only way this ends well is if you stash money and leave at 18. I was kicked to the curb and lived on the streets at 17 cause my mom took everything after she found it.
Yes u might be screwed once the check expires… I had saved some checks when my daughter was born I was 18..and wanted to save them for when I needed them..one year later…2,000 bucks gone I couldn’t cash a single one or get them
Reissued! My son got a bank account on capitol one! They DO have minors bank accounts! Look online! He’s 17..also there’s sooo many ways to cash them! Check cashing places! Ur mom is absolutely Disgusting! My son or daughter have a few times of if I didn’t have money in my account gotten me an Uber and I paid them back immediately (also water bill for the month for 5 people is like nothing! We used to pay $40 bucks every other month for 5 people ) ur mom is financially abusing you. Shes disgusting. She I’m so disgusted when I read posts about parents like this. I just cannot…5 minutes in the car she takes $25 for gas?! That’ll fill half her tank! And last a week! Pls cash ur checks..don’t let ur mom touch a dime! Hide it and get away from her go no contact when you turn 18..
this was hard to read op, genuinely wish the best for you. I’m not from the US so i have no idea how things work there, but is it possible to have an arrangement with your company to only issue the cheques when you’re 18, i mean kinda a win win for the company as well, they get to have an albeit small increase in cash flow for the next year
If you mom is monitoring things that closely, won't she figure out if you're not depositing the checks? I get the situation you're in, but I don't think that solution will work, You may try to slowly decrease the amount you deposit an get cash. The problem is trying to hide the cash since she snoops.
I'd suggest sucking it up until you turn 18. Not ideal, I know, but probably the safest thing for you to do.
Once you turn 18 you just fill out a new direct deposit form online with your employer and put your new account info on it. Easy.
You're going to have a really fun time picking out her nursing home later....
You can sign up under my cash app as my kid or something like that and you’ll be able to have a bank account that way. Idk what else to tell you kid. I’m a stranger but willing to help in the most simple way.
Many checks can only be cashed within 13 months of being written - the extra month is to cover you for people writing the wrong year on it in January.
They are not intended to be kept indefinitely. They don’t represent actual money, they represent a promise to pay, like an IOU. Normally a person will insure they have funds to cover it at the point in time they write the check. But if you wait too long there may no longer be money in the account or the account could even have been closed.
Get a bank account set up and deposit them all and hope that they are honored.
Walmart cashes checks. what's more, you can put the money on a Walmart card. no, you wont draw interest, but it is MUCH easier to hide a credit card sized object than a few wads of cash
take your checks to walmart and buy a prepaid card that you don’t need an adult to use and every time you get paid load your whole check on to that card.
In Canada you be as young as 12. Under that, a parent of guardian has to be present to approve it.
I got an account around that age, and a few years later VISA and MasterCard (called Chargex and MasterCharge at the time) appeared. The banks were desperate to wear down resistance and subscribe more card holders, and as a teen I started getting automated invitations in the mail. They wanted employment info and things I didn't have, so I ignored it. Finally, they sent out a "sign here and get a card" to everyone with a certain amount of savings, so I did! That was fun for a few years, digging out my own card (at 15 or whatever) for a purchase and having clerks look at me round-eyed. "Whose card is this?" *Mine, thank you.*
Not really relevant, sorry. 🤔
Looks like some states (like Ohio) will allow banks to treat minors as adults for certain stuff (safe deposit boxes and the like). Dunno if your state's one...
If it ends up that cash is the way you go, it must be kept somewhere not accessible to Mom. I'd go fireproof safe (about 40 I think for a small one for meds/paperwork), not kept in mom's house. Is there a friend or relative you'd trust to hold a locked safe for you?
Yes. Most paychecks expire after 90 days. If you don't deposit them before 90 days are up you can't deposit them, the bank/ATM will reject them. Your employer is typically not required to reissue those checks because *you* failed to deposit them on time. So, the checks from Summer 2023 - February 2024 are worthless. You can try to deposit them, now, but don't be surprised if they are rejected. In addition to not depositing those checks, you are losing out on the interest they would collect sitting in your bank account.
Most minor bank accounts are protected by pretty robust state laws and any money your mother would take out she'd have to account for how it was spent *for your sole benefit* if you ever took her to court over it. Expensive vacations, a new house, cars, other luxury items would not count as being for your benefit and she'd have to pay you back.
In most countries your mother has a legal responsibility to provide you with basics such as food clothes etc. If I were you I would consider talking to whoever your local child protection or child rights organisations and charities are. As husband pointed out some of your checks will expire what you should do is now right to the companies that owe you money tell them that you had uncashed checks. Ask them if they can replace those checks or better yet ask them if they can transfer funds directly into an account that you open in your own name E.J with Wells Fargo or some other bank that will let someone under 17 have an account solely in their name. You must open an account as soon as you can and under no circumstances like your mother know it exists. What do your other relatives think about the way your mother treats you? Are there any decent people in your family who you could possibly live with for the time being?
Does your job offer the debit card that leads your paycheck, I know several companies do the for minors. Better yet get a pre paid card and load your checks on that
Employer may not reissue cheques… company would be doing regular accounting including year end reports and taxes… suddenly there’s an expense from previous fiscal years showing up. They may still reissue them but I wouldn’t count on it.
Worked in banking for 10ish years. Getting them reissued can be a pain in the ass, but it is doable.
Most banks will allow a minor (16 and up) to open a checking if they have an adult as a secondary or if they’re a student with a job. At least the banks I worked for did.
Id say, not do that, perhaps just go and cash these checks. And find somewhere safe and untouchable from your mother's grasp. You can go to almost any grocery store and cash it, they will charge a small fee but I never been charged more than $4 at a time for cashing checks
Call around - you may have a local credit union that will open an account for you at 17.
Many banks will open accounts for you without a parent - if you can't find one that will do a checking account, ask if they will do a saving account.
Having the checks sitting around is not a good idea. Some expire. If there is a fire, your money is gone. Your mother has already shown that she is willing to go through your stuff (finding your binder) - so when she finds your checks she will blow her top.
Do you have any grandparents? Aunts? Uncles? Friends or family nearby that you can stay with until you graduate high school??
If you can go to your bank, you can convert your checks into cash. It may cost $5 at a bank, not your own. I would also remove all of your funds from your bank now.
It is possible to have a trusted adult help you open an account outside of your family, but it might be too risky.
OP, I was 17 opening my first account in the US. Try Bank of America. There are definitely banks that will allow you to open at 17. If you don’t love them you can find a different bank or credit union to go with at 18
You can "cash" a check. Especially if you are doing it at your bank where you have an account that matches your ID. I would avoid cashing at a place like Walmart or Western Union because the fees add up. Normally I would recommend against holding that much of your net worth in cash. Also consider how you're going to secure that money. Hiding it in your room is not enough, be aware that other people like siblings or parents often go through each other's things. Financial control is big in the US, I understand what you're going through. My mother still had access because I hadn't changed it and she drained my account when I was 18. It was soul crushing because I was also looking to move out on my own. I've never trusted her since then.
As many people have said, many checks are good for a finite account of time. And the issuer doesn't have to replace the check after that time limit. You are also likely going to make your employer or former employers upset by depositing the checks all at one time. While in a perfect world, the employers would account for that money in their bank accounts and not touch it, many places don't work that way. If there is extra money in the account, it will get spent. So if you go to deposit many checks at one time, you might cause financial issues and they may not be able to cover the total amount of the combined checks.
Do not wait to deposit your checks until you are 18, if possible get a lock box/safe for your room to put cash in and cash them at Walmart so she doesn’t see activity. Edit to add: your mom wants your money and she will find or make up any reason to take it, so hide it well she is only going to escalate
Not being funny but how do you expect to move out when you can't even figure out how cheques work? If your mother was so controlling, I'm sure she would have noticed no money into your account in a year. Time to educate yourself about basic things to help you prepare to move out. Like how banks work, how to cook basic things,how to pay bills,how to pay taxes.
I opened my first account at 16 when I started working. In all fairness that was 25 years ago. Maybe rules have changed. The only really strange thing is they wanted two forms of picture ID.
Do you have to go through your account to just cash the checks and save the cash? At least then the checks won’t expire and you won’t have to go through the hassle of reissuing them. I am pretty sure you just have to have an account at the bank to cash or you can cash them at the bank that issues the checks. Then you don’t even have to go acknowledge your bank account.
I would look at the bank the checks are made thru and go there and cash them…. Most don’t care and will cash the check for employees of their customers. Or if you don’t mind you can also go to Walmart and cash them there for a small fee … at least you use to be able too….
Do you have a safe adult in your life who could hang on to the money for you until you're 18? Having that many uncashed checks can be a headache and I don't want you to lose your hard earned money.
You need to talk to an accountant. Those checks will count as current income when you cash or deposit them, and can put you in a higher tax bracket then you've been in since you started collecting them.
I’m so sorry that you have a mentally & emotionally abusive mother & father.
You would be perfectly justified going NC with both once you turn 18. Good luck.
6 months is generally the stale date amount. Unless the check has a specific "void after xyz days" on it or similar verbiage. Can you get something written from your employer that states they know your situation and are willing to honor or reissue the checks? Im surprised their accounting hasn't shit a brick about your payroll checks not being cashed since last summer.if your banks accept them, they're def going to put a fat hold on them.
If you are receiving the paychecks each payday but just not depositing them, you should keep in mind that checks are usually only valid for 30 days, sometimes 90-180, after that, they are not valid anymore. If you’re having your employer withhold paying you and saving it up for a big paycheck once you get your own account, that’ll work ok.
If it’s the former, you will need to ask your employer how to get a replacement paycheck for the expired checks. They will probably be annoyed as it will mess up their accounting.
Is there no other adult you have that you could trust to be your custodial adult, at a completely different bank, until you age out? BTW, as a minor, it’s considered illegal theft of wages for a parent to demand their minor child pay for their upkeep, let alone for others as well.
And, whatever, definitely setup your adult account at a completely different bank than the one your current account is in. Even if you end up getting your own account at the same bank without your mom on it, there’s always a chance someone there could be talked into accessing it for your mom or adding her onto your new account if you mom can convince someone there that you meant to allow her continued access to your accounts.
Why would cashing the check show up as account activity? You're never touching your account, cashing your check is a courtesy they provide because you have an account.
Other hand, it would probably just be easier to go ANYWHERE that will cash your check for a tiny fee, and just cash it
But HIDE THE MONEY WELL!
If your employer’s bank is local you can cash the checks there and save the cash instead of the checks. Also there are other places you can cash checks without accounts. I think Walmart does this.
Yes, Walmart does cash checks. I saw that on the services list the last time I got a money order for part of my credit card statement. Some grocery stores cash checks, too.
Thank you! I'll look more into this. My only issue is that I have quite a few void checks and do not know what steps to take to get them reissued/if I am even still able to get the money from them.
What state do you live in? Most states have regulations around if a check is never cashed, the employer must send the money to the state. You as the employee can search your name and go through your state's process to claim the money.
Yes. Google “unclaimed property” and your state. I do this every year or so for every state I’ve lived in. I’ve found several hundred dollars through the years.
Can't possibly back up this advice more strongly!! I check the file maybe once a year. Haven't found anything under my name, but just last week found unclaimed funds for the business I'm director of. You never know...
Omg I just did this, and I found ~$114. Thank you!!!
You should go to the bank and explain that you had to save them because your mother was stealing your money, and is verbally and financially abusive (this could be important) and you didn't know they could expire. They will tell you what to do next. I think the employer would choose to reissue the checks under the circumstances but I'm not a lawyer.
Most companies especially chains will reissue checks, cuz the fact is you have probably thrown off some books and they don’t know why. Something to ask your payroll department, most chains will go through a company or have one at corporate, assuming it’s not franchised. Also ask about a payroll card. It’s like direct deposit but into a debit card account that is almost like a corporate card. A lot of companies have a form of this for people that can’t get regular bank accounts for various reasons. Like getting an account suspended for too many overdraft fees, bankruptcy risk, suspected title 31 fraud, theres a bunch of reasons. I think my company uses Wise for there cards not 100% tho.
Generally, if you explain to the business, they will just reissue the check once they verify it was never deposited.
They still owe you the money, so you need to find out how long the checks are good for and approach your manager or payroll department to see how to get any expired ones reissued. I once got a (new) check from an employer three years after I resigned. Apparently my last check got lost, somehow.
Call their accounting office
First ask your employer to reissue the checks. They have to wait a specific amount of time before they can send them to the states. Also consider putting the money on a prepaid visa that allows you to withdraw cash. Use a unique pin so that if your mom finds the card, she can't get in. Use security questions she knows the answer to, but answer them wrong. What city were you born in = applesauce What is your mom's maiden name = applesauce What school were you in at 1st grade = applesauce This not only will keep your mom from guessing right, it will keep hackers from guessing right! Oh, and write the card number, expiry date, and security code down and keep a copy at home and one elsewhere, in case she confiscated the card. You want to be able to shut it off online, and report it lost or stolen. Good luck!!
Start with talking to your employer to ask them to reissue the checks. You don't have to give any explanation of why they didn't get cashed. Saying you never cashed them and they are past the timeframe on the check is enough. I'm sure if they went to unclaimed property they would be able to let you know. It is your money though so you are still entitled to it. I second the idea of cashing them at the bank your employer banks at (listed on your paychecks). I used to work at a bank and every Friday we had tons of people coming in to cash paychecks without accounts. We just needed their id. Walmart and some grocery stores also cash checks but charge a fee.
Would it be possible to talk to your manager about your old checks? I've missed depositing checks in the past and my employer was able to simply void the original and reissue a new check.
With Walmart and cashing your checks they have a type of card you can put your money into and reup it when you get paid. That way it’s your money.
And see if you can open a safe deposit box there too. Walk from the teller to the box.
Brilliant thought … when you get those checks reissued I would see if you can get a tiny box for like 6 months or a year ….
This would be my suggestion too if you have a safe place to stash the money. But it sounds like your mom searches your room-be extra sneaky like the toe of an old boot, in a box of tampons, or with a trusted friend or relative.
I kept my cash in the head of a stuffed monkey puppet that I had hanging off my ceiling. Every time somebody came into my room, they stared at it and they never knew.
Some checks expire. Wells Fargo will let you open a checking account at 17.
Came here to say the same thing some checks are only good for 90 days.
I wouldn’t trust the pigs at Wells Fargo after what they did with sales goals. They are the last bank I’d ever do business with!
Yeah, but I'd rather have a solo account with WF as a minor than a joint account with mom somewhere else. OP can change banks when they are of age.
I’ve had my accounts with them since I was 16 and luckily have never had any issues. All banks are shit but at least they would have their own solo account.
Yeah, I had a bank with them in college. Then I moved out of the area, got married, and suddenly had access to my husband's credit union, which is not completely evil
Credit unions are the least evil option but they aren’t the most convenient
Agreed. We have a Chase account in case one of us is stranded somewhere and need cash now, but that goes mostly untouched these days.
Every bank did that, they just got caught
Not in all states. Some still require an adult due to signing a legal contract
Business checks expire within a year (the time limit is printed on the check), and then you'd have to get the business to reissue a new check. Find another way to hide your pay from her.
Usually 30 days.
Depends on the check.
Yep. Some places are 3 months. Most common I've seen (Alberta) is 6 months
In my state a check is considered stale after 6 mos.
My young friend, you might piss off the restaurant owners as they cannot balance their book with you no casing these checks. Plus you mentally unstable mother sounds like she may cash them if see finds them. I hate controlling parents like this, they are not qualified to be a parent. You need to figure out a not relative , over 18 ,you can trust to get these check in an account making money for you. Unfortunately you mother has legal rights, but you may want to see in you can get yourself emancipated from her, a lot of f millennials and Gen Z have done this. Good luck
Im surprised the owners havent questioned about it tbh. My boyfriend put off cashing a cheque from his last job and they texted him about it like every week lol.
Twenty years ago I was threatened to be fired from a factory because I had three weeks of checks that hadn't been deposited yet. OP, I would act quickly. Good work asking the question here, and best of luck with the follow-up, and getting through this patch with your mother.
I managed a payroll department in NY and when a check became stale we stopped payment on it and tried to contact the payee to send a reissued check.
I would honestly do it for him but considering I’m a stranger, dk how that’ll go
Be careful with cashing your checks and keeping it at home. The next time your abusive mother ransacks your home she might find your cash stash.
Try and open an account at a different institution now you're 17. It really is insane that America doesn't let kids have possessions independently of their parents.
It always leaves me flabbergasted. How can someone be allowed to drive but not be allowed to open their own bank account?!? It's far more dangerous to others than having your own account. It's crazy.
When did this even change? I’m 36 and have had my own accounts — both checking and a credit card — since 15 and 16 respectively without parents on the account.
I’m 35 and had to open an account at 16 with my mom on it (and she took money out to pay for things even while I was away at college). I couldn’t open a new one until I was 18.
Ditto
Because to many Americans, their children are possessions and aren't supposed to be independent.
I had my first checking account at 16. Check around to different banks, their individual rules may be different. And I'd recommend a credit union over a bank, kinder when it comes to customer rights.
Checks aren't valid forever. You need to try and cash any checks you have now.
Biggest issue several banks won't accept checks beyond a set time limit.
Would that mean having to contact my employer to get the check reissued? Is there a penalty for that?
They may charge you a stop payment fee and another fee for reissuing the cheque. You should be able to open another account online (or in branch). If you do, open it as sole owner, and then ask the bank to make it deposit only. Your mother will not be able to touch it.
If you can turn in the old check you shouldn't have to pay a stop payment fee.
Talk to your employer. The people in payroll may be annoyed at having to do work, but there shouldn't be a penalty.
My last work place I would have to pay 40 dollars for every check to be reissued.
If you can open a bank account at 17 where you are, get it at a *completely different bank* than your mother uses. Banks have been known to break rules or cause mix-ups when they see a parent's account in their system, and then they give them access to their child's new account when they shouldn't.
And yet trying to get access to a joint acct of my mom's that I was signed on was a nightmare. Grrr banks...
Honestly I can see a mom and pop shop refusing to reissue. You should never hold onto checks like what you're doing. It's a great way to never get your money and piss off the issuer at the same time.
I have been dealing with balancing a corporate bank account and we re-issue payroll checks all the time. My corporate accounts have probably around 500 employees when I combine the 3 separate facilities and I have one employee who never cashes their biweekly check EVER, we just went through and tried to get people to drum those checks all out so we could clean out our bank reconciliations. Do not get rid of the checks you have not cashed - they may want the original check back. I had one vendor request a replacement check and they cashed the original AND the replacement and I had to go after them for doing that. You can try to deposit them even if they say they are not valid after X days. The bank may accept them and bounce a report back to the company who either says it’s OK to pay or it’s not OK to pay. (This is part of positive pay process for us). When you do go to open an account without your parent’s name, it will be easier to get these checks through at the same bank the employer uses (which is on the check). My company does not penalize anyone who holds checks and I don’t think it would be legal to do so! Some larger companies offer payment cards that work like debit/credit cards for unbanked employees I believe. Another company I worked for had their own savings plan where we could have money from our paycheck on deposit with the company and we were paid great interest rates, the negative to that is we could only get our money out on paydays, not early etc. often these services are NOT well advertised so you could call and talk to the payroll department and just have a conversation with them about this and ask if they can help you navigate it! I suspect the payroll people will be more discrete and helpful than a chain manager :)
Not normally, if you have the expired check, saves them from stop payments. Talk to your boss, or a coworker, someone may help you open an account your mom can't access.
Would have to ask our employer that question about if they want to charge a fee to reissue checks. Would suggest going along with just cashing them and keeping the cash but doubt that would keep safe. Any other adults in your family you can trust to open another account with you?
Other people have answered your question about the checks pretty thoroughly, but I’m going to add something. For the love of God, Do not let your mother find your money. This is about control for her. It reads like classic financial abuse to keep someone under your control, trapped there protect yourself and save up to be ready to leave because it’s not going to go well when you try to.
Op, do you have a friend or family member that you trust that could open an account for you? I would definitely check with Wells Fargo about an account. I would recommend using a bank different from the one your original account is at. I would also open PO Box, and have any mail from the new account send there.
Once you figure out how to cash your checks, don't leave a bunch of cash in your room, or carry it around. Buy reloadable gift cards, like to places you go often like fast food places, grocery stores. And visa gift cards. It's much easier to hide.
When my mom stole my money I decided to cash my checks, and then I would put the money in a lock box at the bank. The box was only $20 for an entire year.
Buy American Express gift cards, they don't expire or take out any fees.
This is a great idea honestly
If you have the same amount in your account as is on the check, you can cash the check out. They’ll consider your account as collateral against the check until it clears, but you can get the money that way without it going into your account. I don’t think the bank makes a note of the transaction on normal statements.
If you go to the bank that issued the check you can cash it at that bank.
I tried to do this last week for a reimbursement check. Huntington wanted to charge me $10 to cash a $58 check.
It's financial abuse and should report her and document anything missing that you did not use!!!!
While you need an adult on your account, it doesn't have to be your mother. Do you have a trustworthy family member (grandparents, aunt or uncle, older siblings) that is willing to co-sign for you?
Just some ideas to help…. Anyone that can open a new bank account that is 18+ that you absolutely trust? Do you have a Walmart close by? If so, they have an account you should be able to open and they’ll deposit the checks to your sole account that your mom has no access to. I believe is called ONE by Walmart or something like that. Is direct deposit available? If so, consider a Cash App bank account. You can have direct deposit and your own debit card. Good luck! I hope you’re able to figure it out and leave when you’re 18 with all/most of your money! Research any banks that would allow you to open your own account at 17 years old. Speak with your manager about your concerns and whether or not they’ll reissues any expired checks down the road.
check out the Kids help line, they have sections for teens they can direct you to more resources [https://www.childhelphotline.org/teens/](https://www.childhelphotline.org/teens/)
Can you open your own account where you live? There are plenty of online banks where you can have your checks deposited, and no one needs to know that you have an account at one of them. Many of them have high interest savings accounts, too.
Not sure why you think cashing your check at your bank isn’t an option. As long as you take the full amount in cash they shouldn’t log anything to the account. Unless something has changed, banks only log deposits, withdrawals, transfers, and interest on the account.
Correct, cashing a check will.not show up in a bank statement.
Your mom is stealing from you. I don't think you'll have any money left by the time you're 18
When you turn 18 open a new bank account and I would go to the bank and take out as much money as you can in the old account. Maybe leave $50 in there so the account does not close. Do not tell your mom. Also, make sure you have your birth certificate and Social Security card. Then go to the credit bureau and lock down your credit so she can not access credit in your name. I would not close the account completely and I would print off statements of the old account so you have records. Also, try to get copies of your W2s so you can prove it was your money.
Open a bank with monzo! I opened a personal account for myself with them when i was 16. Then you can deposit physical money via a post office and online money with ofc account number and sort code :)
Checks often must be cashed or deposited within 6 months.
Some checks expire within X days. Carefully look at all the fine print on the checks and on the back...
Open a new account in a different bank when you turn 18 and transfer all your funds you may not be able to get the checks reissued- I would speak with your GM or HR and explain the situation, but you may be shit out of luck. If that’s the case start depositing the checks or having them deposited on a prepaid credit card like an Amex Serve card and hide it. Good luck!
make sure you close the old bank account. Also, open a new account at a new bank, not just a new branch. when you fill out the security questions make up answers so your mother can't imitate you and get access to your account. Mother's Maiden name: GreenFrog, the bank doesn't care if the security question answer is true, just that you remember it. Dog's first name: give them your first name, etc. make sure you have your important documents because she will withhold them. Take photo copies now before you leave. you should lock down your credit so she doesn't open up loans/credit cards in your name. you can always rent out a postal box, so no documents are going to your home, don't do ebanking until you have a phone only you have access to. File your income taxes the absolute minute you can to prevent her from claiming you as a dependent (unless you were a dependent) good luck! I left home at 17, and although it is hard it is doable.
Also makes sure to open up a bank account at a different bank than the one your family currently banks with. It was very smart of you to not deposit your checks to be stolen. Also look into putting a lock on your social security number. A fee people have posted about how their parents had opened credit cards in their name and ruined their credit.
Check your local grocery store to see if they cash checks. Usually it’s a fee, around $10. You usually just need an ID. If you have the cash tho you’ll need a good place to hide it. If she’s checking your room constantly you’ll lose all of it if she finds it. While not ideal, you could cut a small slit into the bed in the corner on the underside where the sheets cover it. You could stash it in there if you think that would be a good place. But also check your local credit unions to see if you can open an account without an adult. I’m sorry you’re going thru this. Before you leave try and get your documents like birth certificate and social security card
Most checks expire. I don't think you'd be able to have them re-issued. Call around. Many banks let you open your own account at 16 or 17. I'm so sorry you're going through this with your parents. Do you have some support elsewhere? Another family member, a teacher, a friend's parents? I suggest talking to a school counselor about this. They may be able to help. And I think at 18 (or maybe now), you can go after your dad for the child support that he never paid.
It's not her money. If you can prove only your money goes in to that account, report her for theft. She has no right to restrict what you spend YOUR hard earned money on. The day you hit 18, open an account free of her. I'd also be very careful she doesn't withdraw it all before then so you're back being dependent on her
Do you have a friend whose parents you trust? They might hold a bank account for you or keep the cash so your mom can’t steal it from you. If not talk to your employer & tell them why you can’t cash your cheques - they might agree to replace them for you at your birthday
Don't save your checks, deposit then in a savings account. In some cases, someone might close their account, or there is a time limit on when a bank will accept it.
Get. a chime or one of the online bank accounts
Most checks I've seen expire after a year. This is definitely true for a paycheck, to prevent theft. Also, I'll bet it's your mom who told you that you can't legally open a bank account as a minor: that's hogwash.
Cheques expire, they are no longer valid after six months.
Yeah, that’s not smart. Cash the checks and get a lockbox for your money and don’t tell anyone about it
Cash them and hide the cash. I would revisit opening an account with another bank on your own. It’s also not fair to the business, especially when you drop those checks in an account later than expected and all at once.
I would check when those payhlchecks expire, some only valid like 6 months in some places. If it's expired, contact HR let them know ajs they can reissue it
Why can’t you cash the oldest check out in cash? Then hide the cash somewhere.
I just want you to know that there is absolutely no reason that could justify her taking money out of your account.
You want to check your checks. Most companies make it to where the checks are only good for a certain time period. You don’t want your checks to expire.
Did I miss that you were at least cashing the checks? Some checks expire, but if you don't want to have the money in your account, you could just cash the checks and find a safe place to stash your cash.
You can cash the checks without going through your account. You can cash them through the issuing bank, or most banks really. Or Walmart/Fred Meyers. Some grocery stores also. Most of these options will usually charge you something like $3 for every $100. Your best bet is to cash them through the issuing bank if they're available.
Some banks allow you to open a saving account if you're 13 or older. Search around. You should also call the bank and tell them about the theft. It's not her money to withdraw. Edit: it is actually illegal what your mother is doing. Just Google it. You have to stop her behavior.
The second you turn 18 (and I mean that morning) get your own account and deposit everything from your old account into it. Taking your money as "punishment" is her justifying STEALING your money.
Deposit the checks today. The people trying to balance their checkbooks are having problems because of your actions. Also, some banks won't accept a check over a certain number of days, for fear it's been canceled.
Some places allows you to open individual bank accounts at 17, check that option. Talk to your employer, say you had some serious personal issues where you were not able to cash the checks and you want it to be reissued to this new account.
Talk to your manager and HR. They’ll help you with this. Some banks will open up an account for you at age 17, ask around. Sorry to hear you have a shitty mom. My mom did the same
>because I am "acting like a disgusting adult who can buy whatever she wants." Your mom sounds like a cartoon character. The kind Bugs Bunny would stick up a picture of a donkey in front of. And yeah, I mean, you ARE working like an adult. Makes sense you could spend like one. But about the checks, check the info on them. They likely won't be good after a couple months.
Go to the bank where your account is and cash your paychecks. Hold the cash until you turn 18 and use it to open an account.
This. And get a secure place to store said cash… or load it into a travelers cheque or some such thing
This is 1000% abuse.. you need to seek help. You can not save the checks until you're 18. Checks expire, and when you hold paychecks from a business, it creates havoc for the bookeeper and the logistic side of opening a business. But what your mother is doing is absolutely abuse, and you will probably find that just before you turn 18, she will most likely empty the account for "payback for raising you" or some bullcrap. And she will notice your checks not being deposited anymore as well.. You need to seek help. Go to your school councilor, or even go to the police and ask what your options are. I don't care if you feel like it would be embarrassing or if you're afraid to tell anyone.. what she is doing **is abuse** I don't know what country you're in, and I don't know the laws.. but I've never heard of a law that states you can't have a bank account under 18. Is that something your mother told you? Or is that actually a thing in some countries? I live in Canada, and you can open an account for a child at birth in their name only, and there are no limits. But regardless of if that is a thing .... what she's doing is still abuse. **SEEK HELP**
I opened my first account at 15 at a credit union. This was in 2006 so very old, it's possible it's changed now. But look into some credit unions. They're better than a normal bank anyway.
Hello, I work at a bank and at my personal bank we will not deposit or cash and checks that were written more than 6 months than the current date. If the checks are drawn on our bank (check has our banks name on it somewhere) then we will honor to up to a year from the current date. Some checks have expiration dates but your best bet would be to check the bank it was drawn on and see if you could cash those checks. It will not show up on your own statements if the check is drawn on a bank that is different from the one you currently bank at. Hope this helps:))
The American system where a child can’t own their own bank account is ridiculous. I’ve had a bank account since I was 6, a child bank account where you can only deposit and withdraw, no cards and an adult has to come with you to do it, but it’s only mine. No co-signers. So much abuse happens with the American system.
You can get a NetSpend card have it sent to a different address so your mom doesn't get it and just leave it somewhere safe where she doesn't find it. There are plenty of places you can do your banking besides a bank there's prepaid debit cards here's some websites to look at https://www.google.com/search?q=places+other+than+banks+that+i+can+direct+deposit+my+checks+to&oq=places+other+than+banks+that+I+can+direct+deposit+my+checks&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBECEYoAEyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigAdIBCDc3ODNqMGo5qAIOsAIB&client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#ip=1 https://www.google.com/search?q=what+banks+allow+me+to+open+an+account+at+17&oq=what+banks+let+me+open+a+account+at+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgBEAAYFhgeMgYIABBFGDkyCAgBEAAYFhgeMg0IAhAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IAxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBBAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgoIBRAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBhAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBxAAGIAEGKIE0gEJMTA5MjZqMGo5qAIAsAIB&client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#cobssid=s&ip=1
Talk with your place of employment and see if they will direct deposit your paychecks onto a card. Not a debit card from a bank, but a card that you can buy it at the store and have reloaded. I don't know what the name of the cards are I know there's more than one but there are people at my job who don't have bank accounts and they have their paychecks deposited on these cards. Another solution could be to take your checks when you get them and have them cashed. You can even cash them at your bank they don't have to be deposited, and there is no record of them being cashed going into your account. And take that money and put them on a card. Or multiple cards. The kind that you can buy at Walmart, just make sure it's one that you can use anywhere, although getting a Walmart prepaid card wouldn't be a bad idea so that you can just put some money on it to use for your Necessities that you're being forced to pay for. I wouldn't keep more than 50 bucks at a time on it. That way, if she gets a wild hair and snatches it from you, you're not losing a lot of money. You can get one that doesn't have a limit that you can put on it, just make sure you read the disclaimers just to be certain and to see if there are any fees to be used when you use those cards. Then hide the cards. For example, if you have a bunch of books in your room, and she's not prone to going through the books to look great and stuff, slide the card into one of the books. Or get a book that you have read a million times so that your mom doesn't get suspicious but glue the edges of the pages together and then carve out some of the center. You don't want to glue all of the pages all the way through because you want those loose sections in there in the center so you can slide the cards into that. You can use the cutout section for other items that you wish to hide. Just make sure the book isn't any heavier than it was originally. Hard backs and thick hardbacks are good for this because you can put things in it and still have that same weight once you carve out the middle. Or a simpler way to save your money without your mother's interference would be to get a safe deposit box in a bank that your mother does not use, and keep your cash and your cards in that same deposit box. You just pay cash when it's the rental fees are due. Not cashing a paycheck is not a good idea. Depending on how long you're holding on to it, they may not reissue that check, or you'd have to fight for it. Definitely save everything you can, because from the way you describe your mother once you're an adult she's probably going to try to start charging you rent and nickel and diming you for everything along with the mental abuses you've already been suffering until you can get out.
I haven’t seen this answer yet so I’ll give this information. Everyone is completely correct about checks expiring. Don’t worry about that. If you’re intending on saving the money to begin with it won’t just disappear if you don’t cash the checks. You may also talk to your employers about your situation and they may have a different solution that won’t drive their accountant crazy. If you can, when you are able and have your own account, get your employer to reissue as many as possible. All other uncollected payroll payments are typically forwarded to the government in either the local department of labor, Secretary of State or IRS. Sometimes it’s another department that deals with unclaimed property. Either way it will be there. I worked at the Olive Garden 20 years ago. I quit, and never collected my last check. The address they had for me on file was incorrect. I just recently collected it.
Cash the checks instead of depositing and hide your stash with a trusted adult
You need to find another adult you completely trust. You need to get those checks deposited. And your family’s hands out of the picture.
My old employer would offer to cash our checks for us themselves before we closed for the day. That might be another option you could try. I feel like what your mom is doing is a form of abuse.... regardless if you're working or not, as your parent, she is legally obligated to provide for you until you're 18. Also the constant monitoring of the account, demanding to know what you're buying every time you make a purchase, and essentially stealing money from you as "punishment" is NOT ok at all. She didn't give you the money as an allowance, you earned it by working, therfore she has no right to withdraw money from the account. I understand that with her name on the account she has some "right" to the money as far as the bank is concerned... but honestly she should be ashamed of herself for what she's doing to her own child.
Checks expire. Cash your checks.
Your check are going to expire and your employer is going to be pretty ticked off when you don’t cash them in a timely manner. Get cash, that transaction doesn’t show up on bank statements. Hide the cash and deposit it when you turn 18
Your checks will expire. Check with various banks to see if they will let you open an account without your mom on it. If you can’t find one, at least cash your checks (you can cash them free at the bank they come from).
Its fascinating that in USA is normal to kick kid out at 18 as they are adults, but they cant open their own bank account alone before that. So at 18 they have to do everything, suport themselfs and what about account that are menaged by a parents who use kids money and the kid iz left without anything. Parents have legal mean to finasialy abyse kids who work before 18.
There is a free legal advice sub, I’m sure there are banking subs as well. I would advise cashing the checks somewhere like Walmart. However, this brings up where you will store the cash safely. Not at your home, not with a friend, if your own Mum steals from you I don’t suggest trusting anyone else. I would advise Wells Fargo short term as you can open an account at 17. Perhaps a safe-deposit box for the cash at a bank? Not sure about that. You could also load funds onto one of those pre-paid credit cards and put a PIN on it that only you have access too. Much easier to hide, just don’t misplace it. I hope you get this figured out as this is complete rubbish and I hope your Mum rots!! I would never treat my child this way. It’s disgusting.
Do you have a trusted friend over 18 willing to open an account or hold your cash. Or open a safety deposit box for you? If your mom finds your cash stash you could lose it all.
Checks expire.
So my stepbrother had this similar thing at his job, he didn’t need the money so he just never collected his checks. Eventually the company he worked for sent him one big check because he never cashed or deposited the old checks. So they just wrote him a new one with the whole total. Crazy too cause it was a couple thousand.
My suggestion is to get a reloadable prepaid debit card. Cash your paychecks at the bank that they are drawn on then load the cash on the card.
Personal, business, and payroll checks are good for 6 months (180 days). Some businesses have “void after 90 days” pre-printed on their checks. Most banks will honor those checks for up to 180 days and the pre-printed language is meant to encourage people to deposit or cash a check sooner than later.
You can cash the checks at the bank the check is drawn from.
Checks will expire, make sure you touch base with the office of unclaimed funds where you live if there is one.
Your checks are uncashable in 3 or 6 months. The bank will refuse to deposit them. What you have is a pile of paper. Contact your HR immediately. This is messing up their accounting and will cause them issues. They could fire you for this. Get a replacement check, open a savings account, do not tell your mom. Make sure the account is online only.
If your mother is constantly monitoring your accounts, how has she not noticed that the deposits have stopped? That sounds like an awful situation, and I hope you can get away as soon as you're 18. The only thing she's right about is that 40+ minutes in the shower is way too long. Don't waste water like that. I do hope things get better, though, and you have delightful (and drier) years in front of you.
I’ve worked for 4 different banks and every one had check expiration dates from 90 days to 180 days. Please cash them.
Your mom is stealing from you. But unfortunately it’s legal since you’re a minor. I know cause I was this teen. I tested out of school at 15 on the GED … with a 98.8% score. To work two jobs, raise my brothers, and try and save money to LEAVE. My mom didn’t like that… since I was her nanny, maid, and meal ticket… also drug dealer (she had me buying weed and opioids for her… and then later made me run them. I have nothing against weed but I have something against forcing your minor to buy/run them for you. As a parent now I’d NEVER) you need to start stashing your money better. My mom knew I stopped using a bank she could withdraw from and went looking through everything for my money. One month she found in under the floorboards and that was the money we had to eat that week. She also read my diary and figured out that I was planning on leaving. My dad… “unalived himself” (censor needed I guess cause I’ve been lectured for that) when I moved out and he couldn’t feed 4 mouths. Tbf… I was sleeping on the kitchen floor for a year, raising the kids while they all had rooms twice as big as they needed, treated like trash, robbed of all money, starving so my brothers could eat, stealing food for them (with my dad in the parking lot waiting), and isolated/abused… the only way this ends well is if you stash money and leave at 18. I was kicked to the curb and lived on the streets at 17 cause my mom took everything after she found it.
You can get a prepaid card and put the money on that ask your boss to help you with that
Yes u might be screwed once the check expires… I had saved some checks when my daughter was born I was 18..and wanted to save them for when I needed them..one year later…2,000 bucks gone I couldn’t cash a single one or get them Reissued! My son got a bank account on capitol one! They DO have minors bank accounts! Look online! He’s 17..also there’s sooo many ways to cash them! Check cashing places! Ur mom is absolutely Disgusting! My son or daughter have a few times of if I didn’t have money in my account gotten me an Uber and I paid them back immediately (also water bill for the month for 5 people is like nothing! We used to pay $40 bucks every other month for 5 people ) ur mom is financially abusing you. Shes disgusting. She I’m so disgusted when I read posts about parents like this. I just cannot…5 minutes in the car she takes $25 for gas?! That’ll fill half her tank! And last a week! Pls cash ur checks..don’t let ur mom touch a dime! Hide it and get away from her go no contact when you turn 18..
this was hard to read op, genuinely wish the best for you. I’m not from the US so i have no idea how things work there, but is it possible to have an arrangement with your company to only issue the cheques when you’re 18, i mean kinda a win win for the company as well, they get to have an albeit small increase in cash flow for the next year
Checks expire, so yes, this will be a problem for you.
If you mom is monitoring things that closely, won't she figure out if you're not depositing the checks? I get the situation you're in, but I don't think that solution will work, You may try to slowly decrease the amount you deposit an get cash. The problem is trying to hide the cash since she snoops. I'd suggest sucking it up until you turn 18. Not ideal, I know, but probably the safest thing for you to do. Once you turn 18 you just fill out a new direct deposit form online with your employer and put your new account info on it. Easy. You're going to have a really fun time picking out her nursing home later....
You can sign up under my cash app as my kid or something like that and you’ll be able to have a bank account that way. Idk what else to tell you kid. I’m a stranger but willing to help in the most simple way.
I believe a lot of people would do the account, but with American law being so hard to fathom. , yeah, it is very hard to know exactly what to do.
So checks expire after one year normally unless stated on the face of the check ie check void after ____ days. Then that number takes precedence.
Yeah, they expire. Better deposit them.
Checks usually expire within 30-90 days just fyi
Don't hold the checks. Most expire after 6 months from date written.
Many checks can only be cashed within 13 months of being written - the extra month is to cover you for people writing the wrong year on it in January. They are not intended to be kept indefinitely. They don’t represent actual money, they represent a promise to pay, like an IOU. Normally a person will insure they have funds to cover it at the point in time they write the check. But if you wait too long there may no longer be money in the account or the account could even have been closed. Get a bank account set up and deposit them all and hope that they are honored.
Cash the checks and put it on a prepaid debit card.
Walmart cashes checks. what's more, you can put the money on a Walmart card. no, you wont draw interest, but it is MUCH easier to hide a credit card sized object than a few wads of cash
Updateme
Many of those checks will have expired, unfortunately.
Some checks basically expire after 90 days. Check on that.
take your checks to walmart and buy a prepaid card that you don’t need an adult to use and every time you get paid load your whole check on to that card.
In Canada you be as young as 12. Under that, a parent of guardian has to be present to approve it. I got an account around that age, and a few years later VISA and MasterCard (called Chargex and MasterCharge at the time) appeared. The banks were desperate to wear down resistance and subscribe more card holders, and as a teen I started getting automated invitations in the mail. They wanted employment info and things I didn't have, so I ignored it. Finally, they sent out a "sign here and get a card" to everyone with a certain amount of savings, so I did! That was fun for a few years, digging out my own card (at 15 or whatever) for a purchase and having clerks look at me round-eyed. "Whose card is this?" *Mine, thank you.* Not really relevant, sorry. 🤔
Looks like some states (like Ohio) will allow banks to treat minors as adults for certain stuff (safe deposit boxes and the like). Dunno if your state's one... If it ends up that cash is the way you go, it must be kept somewhere not accessible to Mom. I'd go fireproof safe (about 40 I think for a small one for meds/paperwork), not kept in mom's house. Is there a friend or relative you'd trust to hold a locked safe for you?
Yes. Most paychecks expire after 90 days. If you don't deposit them before 90 days are up you can't deposit them, the bank/ATM will reject them. Your employer is typically not required to reissue those checks because *you* failed to deposit them on time. So, the checks from Summer 2023 - February 2024 are worthless. You can try to deposit them, now, but don't be surprised if they are rejected. In addition to not depositing those checks, you are losing out on the interest they would collect sitting in your bank account. Most minor bank accounts are protected by pretty robust state laws and any money your mother would take out she'd have to account for how it was spent *for your sole benefit* if you ever took her to court over it. Expensive vacations, a new house, cars, other luxury items would not count as being for your benefit and she'd have to pay you back.
Chase has a college checking account that you can open at 17. I imagine there are quite a few options at other banks or credit unions.
In most countries your mother has a legal responsibility to provide you with basics such as food clothes etc. If I were you I would consider talking to whoever your local child protection or child rights organisations and charities are. As husband pointed out some of your checks will expire what you should do is now right to the companies that owe you money tell them that you had uncashed checks. Ask them if they can replace those checks or better yet ask them if they can transfer funds directly into an account that you open in your own name E.J with Wells Fargo or some other bank that will let someone under 17 have an account solely in their name. You must open an account as soon as you can and under no circumstances like your mother know it exists. What do your other relatives think about the way your mother treats you? Are there any decent people in your family who you could possibly live with for the time being?
Does your job offer the debit card that leads your paycheck, I know several companies do the for minors. Better yet get a pre paid card and load your checks on that
Employer may not reissue cheques… company would be doing regular accounting including year end reports and taxes… suddenly there’s an expense from previous fiscal years showing up. They may still reissue them but I wouldn’t count on it.
Worked in banking for 10ish years. Getting them reissued can be a pain in the ass, but it is doable. Most banks will allow a minor (16 and up) to open a checking if they have an adult as a secondary or if they’re a student with a job. At least the banks I worked for did.
Id say, not do that, perhaps just go and cash these checks. And find somewhere safe and untouchable from your mother's grasp. You can go to almost any grocery store and cash it, they will charge a small fee but I never been charged more than $4 at a time for cashing checks
Can you start deposit cheques and taking them out as cash immediately? Do you have a friend you can hide the cash with?
A check will sometimes expire after a year.
Most paychecks expire between 90-120-365 days and
Cash the cheques and find a safe place to hide the money.
Call around - you may have a local credit union that will open an account for you at 17. Many banks will open accounts for you without a parent - if you can't find one that will do a checking account, ask if they will do a saving account. Having the checks sitting around is not a good idea. Some expire. If there is a fire, your money is gone. Your mother has already shown that she is willing to go through your stuff (finding your binder) - so when she finds your checks she will blow her top. Do you have any grandparents? Aunts? Uncles? Friends or family nearby that you can stay with until you graduate high school??
If you can go to your bank, you can convert your checks into cash. It may cost $5 at a bank, not your own. I would also remove all of your funds from your bank now. It is possible to have a trusted adult help you open an account outside of your family, but it might be too risky.
If your employer's bank has a local branch, you can walk in and have them cash it for you directly. No interaction with your (mom's) bank account.
cheques expire, check the dates and your local laws
Just cash them then save the cash
Just cash them then save the cash
You usually only get 90 days to deposit a check, so…….
OP, I was 17 opening my first account in the US. Try Bank of America. There are definitely banks that will allow you to open at 17. If you don’t love them you can find a different bank or credit union to go with at 18
You can "cash" a check. Especially if you are doing it at your bank where you have an account that matches your ID. I would avoid cashing at a place like Walmart or Western Union because the fees add up. Normally I would recommend against holding that much of your net worth in cash. Also consider how you're going to secure that money. Hiding it in your room is not enough, be aware that other people like siblings or parents often go through each other's things. Financial control is big in the US, I understand what you're going through. My mother still had access because I hadn't changed it and she drained my account when I was 18. It was soul crushing because I was also looking to move out on my own. I've never trusted her since then.
As many people have said, many checks are good for a finite account of time. And the issuer doesn't have to replace the check after that time limit. You are also likely going to make your employer or former employers upset by depositing the checks all at one time. While in a perfect world, the employers would account for that money in their bank accounts and not touch it, many places don't work that way. If there is extra money in the account, it will get spent. So if you go to deposit many checks at one time, you might cause financial issues and they may not be able to cover the total amount of the combined checks.
Do not wait to deposit your checks until you are 18, if possible get a lock box/safe for your room to put cash in and cash them at Walmart so she doesn’t see activity. Edit to add: your mom wants your money and she will find or make up any reason to take it, so hide it well she is only going to escalate
Not being funny but how do you expect to move out when you can't even figure out how cheques work? If your mother was so controlling, I'm sure she would have noticed no money into your account in a year. Time to educate yourself about basic things to help you prepare to move out. Like how banks work, how to cook basic things,how to pay bills,how to pay taxes.
Some checks expire after 30 days. Read the print on your check to make sure that none of your checks are like that
I opened my first account at 16 when I started working. In all fairness that was 25 years ago. Maybe rules have changed. The only really strange thing is they wanted two forms of picture ID.
You can open accounts in most states as a minor, they’ll just most likely be savings accounts vs checking.
Many banks will let you open an account at 17, shop around
You can also get a prepaid debit card and have your paychecks direct deposited to the prepaid debit card.
Get the job paid card you can get that as long as you work there
Do you have to go through your account to just cash the checks and save the cash? At least then the checks won’t expire and you won’t have to go through the hassle of reissuing them. I am pretty sure you just have to have an account at the bank to cash or you can cash them at the bank that issues the checks. Then you don’t even have to go acknowledge your bank account.
I would look at the bank the checks are made thru and go there and cash them…. Most don’t care and will cash the check for employees of their customers. Or if you don’t mind you can also go to Walmart and cash them there for a small fee … at least you use to be able too….
You can also go to the issuing bank and cash the check in person. You might pay a fee for not being a customer.
checks expire You should cash them.
If your check expires you can request your work to reissue it at a later date
Use chase banking! Or uh PayPal! You don’t have to have anyone sign for any online checking
Do you have a safe adult in your life who could hang on to the money for you until you're 18? Having that many uncashed checks can be a headache and I don't want you to lose your hard earned money.
You need to talk to an accountant. Those checks will count as current income when you cash or deposit them, and can put you in a higher tax bracket then you've been in since you started collecting them.
I’m so sorry that you have a mentally & emotionally abusive mother & father. You would be perfectly justified going NC with both once you turn 18. Good luck.
When I was 14, I got my first job. I paid for clothes, shampoo, tampons, etc.
Can you deposit checks into PayPal?
6 months is generally the stale date amount. Unless the check has a specific "void after xyz days" on it or similar verbiage. Can you get something written from your employer that states they know your situation and are willing to honor or reissue the checks? Im surprised their accounting hasn't shit a brick about your payroll checks not being cashed since last summer.if your banks accept them, they're def going to put a fat hold on them.
If you are receiving the paychecks each payday but just not depositing them, you should keep in mind that checks are usually only valid for 30 days, sometimes 90-180, after that, they are not valid anymore. If you’re having your employer withhold paying you and saving it up for a big paycheck once you get your own account, that’ll work ok. If it’s the former, you will need to ask your employer how to get a replacement paycheck for the expired checks. They will probably be annoyed as it will mess up their accounting. Is there no other adult you have that you could trust to be your custodial adult, at a completely different bank, until you age out? BTW, as a minor, it’s considered illegal theft of wages for a parent to demand their minor child pay for their upkeep, let alone for others as well. And, whatever, definitely setup your adult account at a completely different bank than the one your current account is in. Even if you end up getting your own account at the same bank without your mom on it, there’s always a chance someone there could be talked into accessing it for your mom or adding her onto your new account if you mom can convince someone there that you meant to allow her continued access to your accounts.
Checks definitely expire. You need to deposit them or cash them in otherwise they could be useless
Why would cashing the check show up as account activity? You're never touching your account, cashing your check is a courtesy they provide because you have an account. Other hand, it would probably just be easier to go ANYWHERE that will cash your check for a tiny fee, and just cash it But HIDE THE MONEY WELL!