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Bounced check damages calculator (New York)
A bounced check is worth more than its face amount: if you demand it the right way.
GEN. OBLIG. LAW § 11-104Under General Obligations Law § 11-104, the maker of a dishonored check who fails to pay within thirty days of a written demand sent by certified mail owes the face amount plus additional statutory damages on a capped schedule, higher where the maker knew the account couldn't cover it. The demand has to be done right for the extra damages to attach.
Read this before you rely on it. This tool is general legal information about New York law, not legal advice about your situation. It uses simplified assumptions, it may not reflect the most recent changes in the law, and it cannot account for facts it does not ask about. Using it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Hochman Law PC or Daniel Hochman, Esq., and the firm is not responsible for decisions made, deadlines missed, or letters sent in reliance on its output. Verify any number or date against the current statute or with an attorney before you act on it. Attorney Advertising; prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Worth knowing
The statutory schedule and caps are summarized; the statute sets the notice content and timing and the exact damages are for a court to award. Bad-check writing can also be a crime under the Penal Law: this tool addresses only the civil demand.
Want it on law-firm letterhead?
The attorney-signed version is screened before you pay, signed by Daniel Hochman, Esq., and mailed within 48 hours. Flat fee, shown first.
Bounced check demand letter. $349 flatQuestions
How long does the check writer have after my demand?
Thirty days from a compliant written demand before the additional statutory damages attach.
Does the demand have to go by certified mail?
The statute's scheme turns on a written demand with proof of delivery; certified mail is how that proof is made.
Can I still sue if I never sent a demand?
You can sue for the face amount on the check or the underlying debt. The additional statutory damages under § 11-104 require the demand.
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Reviewed by Daniel Hochman, Esq., New York Bar · Last updated August 2026 · About the attorney