Current through 2023-2024 Legislative Session Chapter 709
Section 11-3-312 - Lost, destroyed, or stolen cashier's check, teller's check, or certified check(a) In this Code section: (1) "Check" means a cashier's check, teller's check, or certified check;(2) "Claimant" means a person who claims the right to receive the amount of a cashier's check, teller's check, or certified check that was lost, destroyed, or stolen;(3) "Declaration of loss" means a statement, made in a record under penalty of perjury, to the effect that:(4) "Obligated bank" means the issuer of a cashier's check or teller's check or the acceptor of a certified check.(b) A claimant may assert a claim to the amount of a check by a communication to the obligated bank describing the check with reasonable certainty and requesting payment of the amount of the check, if the claimant is the drawer or payee of a certified check or the remitter or payee of a cashier's check or teller's check, the communication contains or is accompanied by a declaration of loss of the claimant with respect to the check, the communication is received at a time and in a manner affording the bank a reasonable time to act on it before the check is paid, and the claimant provides reasonable identification if requested by the obligated bank. Delivery of a declaration of loss is a warranty of the truth of the statements made in the declaration. If a claim is asserted in compliance with this subsection, the following rules apply: (1) The claim becomes enforceable at the later of:(i) The time the claim is asserted;(ii) The ninetieth day following the date of the check in the case of a cashier's check or teller's check; or(iii) The ninetieth day following the date of the acceptance in the case of a certified check;(2) Until the claim becomes enforceable, it has no legal effect and the obligated bank may pay the check or, in the case of a teller's check, may permit the drawee to pay the check. Payment to a person entitled to enforce the check discharges all liability of the obligated bank with respect to the check;(3) If the claim becomes enforceable before the check is presented for payment, the obligated bank is not obliged to pay the check; and(4) When the claim becomes enforceable, the obligated bank becomes obliged to pay the amount of the check to the claimant if payment of the check has not been made to a person entitled to enforce the check. Subject to paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 11-4-302, payment to the claimant discharges all liability of the obligated bank with respect to the check.(c) If the obligated bank pays the amount of a check to a claimant under paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of this Code section and the check is presented for payment by a person having rights of a holder in due course, the claimant is obliged to (i) refund the payment to the obligated bank if the check is paid; or (ii) pay the amount of the check to the person having rights of a holder in due course if the check is dishonored.(d) If a claimant has the right to assert a claim under subsection (b) of this Code section and is also a person entitled to enforce a cashier's check, teller's check, or certified check which is lost, destroyed, or stolen, the claimant may assert rights with respect to the check either under this Code section or Code Section 11-3-309.Amended by 2024 Ga. Laws 600,§ 5-19, eff. 7/1/2024.