Hmmmmm...I like Mr & Mrs. or John and Jane Doe. Mr. only doesn't seem right, even if it is proper.

Another Hmmm. I always write them "John Doe or Jane Doe", that way either one of them can cash the check.

Annie

katiec, I felt like you... it may be proper but just doesn't seem right.

Annie, I didn't know you could write 'or' on a check!

According to what I read, the reasoning to write "John Doe", regardless of whether you know the bride or groom, is that men do not change their name when they get married so there isn't any hold-up on depositing or cashing the check while waiting for all the proper changes and paperwork for the wife who changes their name.

Just as an aside..... I used to work with this great guy and when he and his wife got married they wanted both their surnames changed to Smith-Doe. What he learned is that (in this state, at least) a wife can change her name to ANYTHING SHE WANTS easily and immediately upon marriage, but a man cannot. The surname she chooses doesn't have any rules attached... she could call herself Jane Godzilla if she wanted to. He had to go to court to get his surname changed. :p

Thanks both for the replies! I guess I'll use both their names... maybe I should confuse everyone and write "John Doe and/or Jane Smith". LOL!

This post was edited by party_music50 on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 7:45

I've been told a check has to be made out to one person (or business).
Although that's not true of tax refunds -- that has both names and requires both signatures. Maybe it's different for the feds. Ask at your bank.
I would make it out to the groom, since he is your relative, and add a note that warmly includes the bride.
If I were a friend or relative of the bride, I would make it out to her. Whatever name she decides on, just after she marries she can surely still cash checks in her maiden name.
You want it to be simple for them to cash it, and not have to wonder if they both must sign, or otherwise be unsure how to deal with it. One name makes it simpler.

This post was edited by cloudy_christine on Mon, Nov 25, 13 at 7:25

cloudy_christine, that's a great idea to just cover your bases by adding a note -- thanks!

Bank rules vary, depending on their internal policies, but it was one of the officers at my local bank that told me I could write "or" and either person could cash it, according to the Uniform Commercial Code, which governs "negotiable instruments", including checks.

A quick search shows me that UCC Article 3-110 says, in pertinent part:

"(d) If an instrument is payable to two or more persons alternatively, it is payable to any of them and may be negotiated, discharged, or enforced by any or all of them in possession of the instrument. If an instrument is payable to two or more persons not alternatively, it is payable to all of them and may be negotiated, discharged, or enforced only by all of them. If an instrument payable to two or more persons is ambiguous as to whether it is payable to the persons alternatively, the instrument is payable to the persons alternatively."

So, yes, you can write a check to more than one person. "And" means that both have to sign it, "or" means that either person can sign it. Your bank may have their own rules which has nothing to do with the law at all, just rules to prevent problems for them.

More than you wanted to know, I'm sure, but you asked, LOL.

Annie

Here is a link that might be useful: UCC 3-110

That is nice to know Annie! I know here in Fl. when you buy a car you can use and/or on the title. Didn't know that about a check.

I learn all kinds of things here. Thanks, Annie! The wedding was yesterday though, so just to be safe I wrote the check to him and a note to both.

Just to add....

I always write 'or' on a check made out to a couple, then either of them can conveniently deposit it to their account without it requiring endorsement by both.

I don't think I would have sent a check designating just the groom as the gift was for them as a couple, any more than I would have sent a gift addressed to just one half the pair;).

Annie is right. "And" requires both to sign "or" enables either to sign, and I have had checks from individuals, companies, and the IRS. All banks required the same thing every time. At least that's, been my experience at banks all over the state in which I live. You could just give them cash? Yea, that's the ticket! Universal and all you have to do is write their name on the envelope. Not much help, but it's what I might do in such a quandry. I can't foresee someone taking their cash or anyone handling their gifts that wouldn't completely love them, so I would not worry about it any way.

Best wishes to the happy couple!

I never endorse checks, I always just write "for deposit only, account # xxxx-yyyyyy" and deposit it to our joint account. Doesn't matter if the check is to either of us/and/or.