Writing a Bad Check
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-128 — eight days to make it good after notice before the law presumes the writer knew
Issuing a bad check is writing or passing a check knowing there are not enough funds to cover it, intending or believing it will be refused, when it is in fact refused.
Who handles this in Connecticut: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Connecticut directory.
- The writer is presumed to have known it would not be paid if there was no account at all, or if it was refused for insufficient funds when presented within thirty days and the writer did not make it good within eight days of notice of the refusal.
- A postdated check is not covered by that presumption.
| Amount of the check | Class |
|---|---|
| Amount of the checkFive hundred dollars or less | ClassClass C misdemeanor |
| Amount of the checkMore than $500, up to $1,000 | ClassClass B misdemeanor |
| Amount of the checkMore than $1,000, up to $2,000 | ClassClass A misdemeanor |
| Amount of the checkMore than $2,000 | ClassClass D felony |
Sources for this section (1)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-128 — Issuing a bad check. Penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Connecticut attorney.