Key facts
| Measure | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| civil damages rule[1] | A drawer who fails to pay a dishonored check within 30 days of notice and written demand is liable to the original holder for the face amount plus three times the face amount or 100 dollars, whichever is greater, with those damages capped at 500 dollars, plus reasonable attorney fees. | 2026 |
| felony threshold amount[2] | 750 | 2026 |
| misdemeanor penalty[2] | Under Section 570.120, RSMo, passing a bad check is a class A misdemeanor unless the face amount is 750 dollars or more, or the issuer had no account or drawee, in which case it is a class E felony. | 2026 |
| notice period days[1] | 30 | 2026 |
| prosecution notice requirement[2] | For the insufficient-funds form of the offense, the crime requires that the issuer fail to pay within 10 days after receiving actual written notice of nonpayment. | 2026 |
| statute citation[2] | Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 570.120 | 2026 |
Lending rules in Missouri: Missouri lending laws.
Sources
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Section 537.123, RSMo - Civil action for damages for passing bad checks.
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Section 570.120, RSMo - Crime of passing bad checks.