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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82560</law_id><section_number>8.3A-312</section_number><catch_line>Lost, destroyed, or stolen cashier&amp;#8217;s check, teller&amp;#8217;s check, or certified check</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.3A">Commercial Code &#x2014; Negotiable Instruments</unit><unit label="part" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Enforcement of Instruments</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> In this section: <a id="paragraph-295798" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Check</span>&#x201D; means a cashier&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, teller&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, or certified <span class="dictionary">check</span>. <a id="paragraph-295799" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#a1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Claimant</span>&#x201D; means a person who claims the right to receive the amount of a cashier&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, teller&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, or certified <span class="dictionary">check</span> that was lost, destroyed, or stolen. <a id="paragraph-295800" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#a2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Declaration of loss</span>&#x201D; means a written statement, made under <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of <span class="dictionary">perjury</span>, to the effect that (i) the declarer lost <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of a <span class="dictionary">check</span>, (ii) the declarer is the drawer or payee of the <span class="dictionary">check</span>, in the case of a certified <span class="dictionary">check</span>, or the remitter or payee of the <span class="dictionary">check</span>, in the case of a cashier&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span> or teller&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, (iii) the loss of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> was not the result of a transfer by the declarer or a lawful seizure, and (iv) the declarer cannot reasonably obtain <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">check</span> because the <span class="dictionary">check</span> was destroyed, its whereabouts cannot be determined, or it is in the wrongful <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of an unknown person or a person that cannot be found or is not amenable to <span class="dictionary">service of process</span>. <a id="paragraph-295801" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#a3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Obligated bank</span>&#x201D; means the issuer of a cashier&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span> or teller&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span> or the acceptor of a certified <span class="dictionary">check</span>. <a id="paragraph-295802" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#a4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> A <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> may assert a claim to the amount of a <span class="dictionary">check</span> by a communication to the <span class="dictionary">obligated bank</span> describing the <span class="dictionary">check</span> with reasonable certainty and requesting payment of the amount of the <span class="dictionary">check</span>, if (i) the <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> is the drawer or payee of a certified <span class="dictionary">check</span> or the remitter or payee of a cashier&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span> or teller&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, (ii) the communication contains or is accompanied by a <span class="dictionary">declaration of loss</span> of the <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> with respect to the <span class="dictionary">check</span>, (iii) the communication is received at a time and in a manner affording the bank a reasonable time to act on it before the <span class="dictionary">check</span> is paid, and (iv) the <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> provides reasonable identification if requested by the <span class="dictionary">obligated bank</span>. Delivery of a <span class="dictionary">declaration of loss</span> is a warranty of the truth of the statements made in the declaration. If a claim is asserted in compliance with this subsection, the following rules apply: <a id="paragraph-295803" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The claim becomes enforceable at the later of (i) the time the claim is asserted, or (ii) the ninetieth day following the date of the <span class="dictionary">check</span>, in the case of a cashier&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span> or teller&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, or the ninetieth day following the date of the acceptance, in the case of a certified <span class="dictionary">check</span>. <a id="paragraph-295804" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#b1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Until the claim becomes enforceable, it has no legal effect and the <span class="dictionary">obligated bank</span> may pay the <span class="dictionary">check</span> or, in the case of a teller&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, may permit the drawee to pay the <span class="dictionary">check</span>. Payment to a person entitled to enforce the <span class="dictionary">check</span> discharges all liability of the <span class="dictionary">obligated bank</span> with respect to the <span class="dictionary">check</span>. <a id="paragraph-295805" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#b2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If the claim becomes enforceable before the <span class="dictionary">check</span> is presented for payment, the <span class="dictionary">obligated bank</span> is not obliged to pay the <span class="dictionary">check</span>. <a id="paragraph-295806" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#b3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> When the claim becomes enforceable, the <span class="dictionary">obligated bank</span> becomes obliged to pay the amount of the <span class="dictionary">check</span> to the <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> if payment of the <span class="dictionary">check</span> has not been made to a person entitled to enforce the <span class="dictionary">check</span>. Subject to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Payor bank's responsibility for late return of item" href="/8.4-302/">8.4-302</a> (a) (1), payment to the <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> discharges all liability of the <span class="dictionary">obligated bank</span> with respect to the <span class="dictionary">check</span>. <a id="paragraph-295807" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#b4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">obligated bank</span> pays the amount of a <span class="dictionary">check</span> to a <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> under subsection (b) (4) and the <span class="dictionary">check</span> is presented for payment by a person having rights of a holder in due course, the <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> is obliged to (i) refund the payment to the <span class="dictionary">obligated bank</span> if the <span class="dictionary">check</span> is paid, or (ii) pay the amount of the <span class="dictionary">check</span> to the person having rights of a holder in due course if the <span class="dictionary">check</span> is dishonored. <a id="paragraph-295808" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d"><p><span class="prefix-number">d.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> has the right to assert a claim under subsection (b) and is also a person entitled to enforce a cashier&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, teller&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">check</span>, or certified <span class="dictionary">check</span> which is lost, destroyed, or stolen, the <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> may assert rights with respect to the <span class="dictionary">check</span> either under this section or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Enforcement of lost, destroyed, or stolen instrument" href="/8.3A-309/">8.3A-309</a>. <a id="paragraph-295809" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.3A-312/#d"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1992, c. 693.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
