There is no single cheque limitation period in Jordan that applies to every claim. Under Article 271 of Jordanian Commercial Law No. 12 of 1966, a holder’s claim against the drawee is subject to a five-year period from the end of the presentation period, while certain recourse claims against the drawer, endorsers, and other liable parties are subject to six months.
This is different from the deadline for presenting a cheque to the bank. A cheque drawn and payable in Jordan is generally presented within 30 days from the date shown on it. Missing that period does not automatically mean that every legal right connected with the cheque or the underlying debt has expired.
Quick Answers
What is the cheque limitation period in Jordan?
It depends on the type of claim. A holder’s claim against the drawee is generally subject to five years from the end of the presentation period, while certain recourse claims against the drawer, endorsers, and other liable parties are subject to six months, subject to statutory exceptions.
Does a cheque expire after six months in Jordan?
No. Six months applies to certain recourse claims and does not mean that every right connected with the cheque automatically expires. Other claims may have different limitation periods, and the underlying debt may still remain enforceable.
How long is a cheque valid for bank presentation in Jordan?
A cheque drawn and payable in Jordan should generally be presented to the bank within 30 days from its stated date. This is a presentation deadline, not a general limitation period for every legal claim arising from the cheque.
When does a bank cheque expire in Jordan?
There is no single expiry date for every cheque claim. The applicable period depends on the type of legal action, the party against whom the claim is made, the presentation deadline, and whether the underlying debt remains enforceable.
What is the limitation period for a bounced cheque in Jordan?
A bounced cheque does not have one limitation period simply because it was returned unpaid. The applicable period depends on the cheque date, type of claim, party pursued, and previous legal or enforcement action, particularly in light of the legal changes affecting newer cheques.
Do you have an old or bounced cheque in Jordan?
Send us the cheque date and any previous legal or enforcement documents to review whether your claim may still be available.
Cheque Limitation Period Under Jordanian Law
Article 271 of Jordanian Commercial Law governs limitation periods for actions arising from cheques and does not impose a single period for every situation. A holder’s action against the drawee is subject to five years calculated from the end of the cheque presentation period, while the holder’s recourse claims against the drawer, endorsers, and other liable parties are subject to six months from the end of that period.
Recourse claims between liable parties who have paid the cheque are also subject to six months, calculated from the date of payment or from the date on which a recourse claim was brought against them. Article 271 also provides exceptions, including claims against a drawer who failed to provide funds for payment or withdrew those funds in whole or in part, as well as claims involving unjust enrichment.
| Type of Claim | Limitation Period |
|---|---|
| Holder’s claim against the drawee | 5 years from the end of the presentation period |
| Holder’s recourse against the drawer, endorsers, and other liable parties | 6 months from the end of the presentation period |
| Recourse between liable parties | 6 months from payment or from the filing of a recourse claim |
| Drawer who failed to provide funds or withdrew them | Excluded from the above periods under Article 271 |
| Unjust enrichment claim | Excluded from the above periods under Article 271 |
Official legal source: Article 271 of Jordanian Commercial Law – Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply. Last verified: September 2026.
Does a Cheque Expire After 6 Months in Jordan?
No. When determining the cheque limitation period in Jordan, the passage of six months alone does not mean that every right under the cheque has expired. The six-month period applies to certain recourse claims, while other actions are subject to different periods and some claims are specifically excluded from the time limits stated in Article 271.
The type of legal claim must therefore be identified before calculating the deadline. One cheque-based remedy may become time-barred while another claim remains available, and the underlying debt for which the cheque was issued may also continue to exist under the rules governing that obligation.
Cheque Validity and Bank Presentation Deadline in Jordan
The deadline for presenting a cheque in Jordan should not be confused with the limitation period for a legal claim. A cheque drawn in Jordan and payable in Jordan should generally be presented to the bank within 30 days from the date shown on the cheque. Different rules apply to cheques drawn outside Jordan depending on where they were issued.
The end of the presentation period does not automatically make the cheque worthless or extinguish every right connected with it. Jordanian Commercial Law permits the drawee to pay the cheque after the presentation period has expired. The 30-day deadline should therefore not be treated as a universal expiry date for the cheque or the underlying debt.
Do not confuse these time limits
- 30 days: the presentation period for a cheque drawn and payable in Jordan in the situation described above; it is not a general limitation period.
- 5 years: the holder’s claim against the drawee, calculated from the end of the presentation period.
- 6 months: applies to specified recourse claims under Article 271; it is not a general rule that every cheque expires after six months.
Limitation Period for a Bounced Cheque in Jordan
There is no separate limitation period that applies to every bounced cheque in Jordan simply because it was returned unpaid or there were insufficient funds. The applicable period depends on the type of claim, the party against whom it is brought, and the date on which the cheque presentation period ended. Cheque-based commercial claims must therefore be distinguished from rights arising from the underlying debt.
The legal position of newer cheques also changed following amendments that took effect in 2025. Older criminal rules should therefore not automatically be applied to every returned cheque. Older cases may require examination of the date of issue, previous proceedings, and any earlier complaint, judgment, or enforcement step before determining the relevant limitation period and legal effect.
Official source on the legislative changes: Jordan News Agency (Petra) – Minister of Justice on amendments relating to penalties, enforcement and cheques.
Does Expiry of a Cheque Claim Extinguish the Underlying Debt?
Not necessarily. The expiry of a particular action arising from a cheque does not automatically extinguish the underlying debt for which the cheque was issued. Article 273 of Jordanian Commercial Law provides that accepting a cheque does not replace the original debt and that the original obligation and its securities remain until the cheque is paid.
The limitation period for the underlying debt depends on its legal basis, nature, supporting documents, and any previous proceedings. It is therefore incorrect to assume that the expiry of a five-year or six-month cheque-related period automatically extinguishes every financial claim connected with the transaction.
Older cheques and previous cases: Some older matters may have been affected by general amnesty legislation or criminal proceedings that took place before recent amendments. This does not automatically mean that the financial right represented by the cheque has disappeared. The cheque date, presentation date, and any previous complaint, judgment, or enforcement proceeding should be reviewed before reaching a conclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheque Limitation Periods in Jordan
What is the cheque limitation period in Jordan?
The cheque limitation period in Jordan depends on the type of claim. A holder’s claim against the drawee is generally subject to five years from the end of the presentation period, while certain recourse claims against the drawer, endorsers, and other liable parties are subject to six months, subject to statutory exceptions.
Does a cheque expire after 6 months in Jordan?
No. Six months does not mean that every cheque automatically expires in Jordan. That period applies to certain recourse claims under Article 271, while a holder’s claim against the drawee may remain subject to five years. The underlying debt may also remain enforceable depending on its legal basis and the circumstances of the case.
How long is a cheque valid in Jordan?
If a cheque is drawn and payable in Jordan, it should generally be presented to the bank within 30 days from the date shown on the cheque. However, this is a presentation deadline, not a final expiry period. Legal claims arising from the cheque may remain subject to different limitation periods depending on the type of claim.
What is the limitation period for a bounced cheque in Jordan?
There is no single limitation period for every bounced cheque in Jordan. The answer depends on the type of claim, the cheque date, and the party against whom the claim is brought. Following the legal changes that took effect in 2025, newer cheques and older files should also be assessed separately before applying criminal, civil, or commercial rules.
Does expiry of the cheque mean the underlying debt is lost?
No. The expiry of one cheque-based claim does not automatically extinguish the underlying debt. A holder may lose a particular negotiable-instrument remedy while the original debt remains enforceable, depending on its source, legal nature, and applicable limitation period. It is therefore important to distinguish between expiry of the cheque claim and expiry of the original debt.
When does a bank cheque expire in Jordan?
A bank cheque does not expire on one single date in every case. It is necessary to distinguish between the deadline for presenting the cheque to the bank, the limitation periods for recourse claims, the holder’s claim against the drawee, and the underlying debt. The correct calculation depends on the cheque date, presentation period, defendant, and type of claim.
Summary
The cheque limitation period in Jordan cannot be determined from the cheque date alone. It depends on the type of claim, presentation period, party against whom the claim is brought, and any earlier legal action. Some cheque claims are subject to five years, certain recourse claims to six months, while the underlying debt may remain enforceable even after a particular cheque-based remedy becomes time-barred.
Do you have an old or bounced cheque and want to know whether you can still claim payment?
The cheque date, presentation deadline, previous notices, lawsuits, judgments, and enforcement proceedings may all affect the available legal route. Reviewing these details before taking action can help determine whether a cheque-based claim or a claim based on the underlying debt may still be available.
Legal Review
Prepared and reviewed by: The Legal Team at Fursan Al Haq Law Firm & Legal Consultations
Publication date: 13 September 2026
Legal basis of this content: This article was reviewed with reference to Jordanian Commercial Law No. 12 of 1966, as amended, particularly Articles 246, 249, 271 and 273 concerning cheque presentation periods, limitation periods for cheque claims, and the continued existence of the underlying debt, together with subsequent official legislation and amendments relating to cheques and enforcement.
Official Sources
- Jordanian Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply – Commercial Law No. 12 of 1966
- Jordanian Prime Ministry – Official Gazette, Issue No. 5796
- Jordan News Agency (Petra) – Changes to the criminal protection of cheques in 2025
- Jordan News Agency (Petra) – Minister of Justice on amendments relating to penalties, enforcement and cheques
Disclaimer
This content is provided for general legal information only and does not constitute legal advice for any individual case. Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship. The legal effect of a cheque may vary depending on its issue date, reason for non-payment, type of claim, previous proceedings, and the documents available in each case.
