| STATE |
FELONY |
MISDEMEANOR |
SERVICE FEES |
CIVIL PENALTIES |
| Alabama |
. |
All Amounts |
The greater, either $30 or actual charge by bank for returned check. |
Greater of $10 or actual bank charges. May recover damages, including attorney’s fees, as determined by jury or court. |
| Alaska |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$30 |
$100, or triple the amount of the check, whichever is greater, except maximum is $1,000. |
| Arizona |
. |
All Amounts |
$25 |
Twice the amount of the check or $50, whichever is greater, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees as awarded by the court. |
| Arkansas |
> $200 |
< $200 |
$25 |
Twice the amount of the check, but in no case less than $50, a collection fee, interest, court costs and reasonable attorney's fee. |
| California |
All Amounts |
offense may be deemed a misdemeanor at the discretion of the court. |
$25 for first check, $35 for each subsequent one. |
Liable for the amount of the check and damages equal to three times that amount, but not less than $100, nor more than $1,500. |
| Colorado |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$30, or 20% of check amount. |
Three times the amount of the check but not less than $100, plus costs of collection. |
| Connecticut |
> $1,000 |
< $1,000 |
$30 |
For an NSF check: determined by the court but in no event shall the amount be greater than the amount of the check or $400, whichever is less. For a check drawn on a non-existent account: determined by the court but in no event shall the amount be greater than the amount of the check or $750. |
| Delaware |
> $1,000 |
< $1,000 |
$25 |
$100, or three times the amount of the check not to exceed $500. |
| District of Columbia |
> $100 |
< $100 |
$25 |
Amount of the check. |
| Florida |
> $50 |
< $50 |
Fees start at $25 if face amount does not exceed $50. |
Three times the amount of the check, but in no case less than $50, together with the amount of the check, a service charge, court costs, reasonable attorney fees and bank charges. |
| Georgia |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$30, or 5% of check face value, whichever is greater. |
Double the amount of the check not to exceed $500, plus any court cost incurred. |
| Hawaii |
. |
All Amounts |
$30 |
$100, or triple the amount of the check whichever is greater, not to exceed $500. |
| Idaho |
. |
All Amounts |
$20 |
$100, or triple the amount of the check, whichever is greater, not to exceed $500. |
| Illinois |
The offense is considered a felony, if it represents subsequent offenses. |
All Amounts |
$25 or all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees necessary to collect the check. |
$100, or triple the amount of the check whichever is greater, not to exceed $1,500, plus attorney's fees and court costs. |
| Indiana |
> $2,500 if property acquired was a motor vehicle. |
All Other Amounts |
$20, or 5%, whichever is greater not to exceed $250. |
Treble the face amount of the check, not to exceed $500. |
| Iowa |
> $1,000 |
< $1,000 |
$30 |
Treble the face amount of the check, not to exceed $500. |
| Kansas |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$30 |
$100, or three times the amount of the check, but not to exceed the amount of the check by more than $500; plus court and reasonable attorneys’ fees. |
| Kentucky |
> $300 |
< $300 |
$25 |
None. |
| Louisiana |
> $100 |
< $100 |
$25, or 5% of check amount whichever is greater. |
Minimum of $100, or twice the amount of the check plus attorney's fees and court costs. |
| Maine |
All Amounts |
. |
$25 |
Amount of check, plus court costs, processing charges and interest. Court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and assess a civil penalty of $50. |
| Maryland |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$35 |
Amount of the check plus up to double the amount of the check, but not more than $1,000. |
| Massachusetts |
> $100 |
< $100 |
$25 |
Amount of check plus damages determined by the court, but in no event less than $100 or more than $500. |
| Michigan |
> $50 |
< $50 |
$25 |
May be liable for double damages in the amount of not less than $50 but not more than $500, plus court costs up to $250. |
| Minnesota |
. |
All Amounts |
$30, or actual costs not to exceed $30. |
Up to $100 or the value of the check, whichever is greater, interest at the rate payable on judgments and reasonable attorney's fees. |
| Mississippi |
> $100 |
< $100 |
$40 |
Amount of check plus additional charges depending on the amount of check beginning at $30 and a maximum of 25% of the check if check is over $200. |
| Missouri |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$25 |
Amount of the check plus attorney fees and $100 or up to treble the amount of the check, whichever is greater. |
| Montana |
> $300 |
< $300 |
$30 |
Must be an amount equal to the service charge plus the greater of $100 or three times the amount of the check, not to exceed the amount of the check by more than $500. |
| Nebraska |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$30 |
$10 plus any reasonable handling fee imposed by the bank. |
| Nevada |
> $250 |
< $250 |
$25 |
Three times the amount of the check, but not less than $100 nor more than $500 |
| New Hampshire |
> $1,000 |
< $1,000 |
$30 |
Court, service and collection costs. Failure to pay within allotted time may result in a $10. per day fee up to $500 until paid. |
| New Jersey |
> $200 |
< $200 |
$20 |
Liable for attorneys’ fees, court fees, mailing fees for notice and damages equal to $100, or triple the amount of check, whichever is greater, not to exceed to $500 more than the amount of the check. |
| New Mexico |
> $25 |
< $25 |
$20 |
$100, or triple the check amount, whichever is greater, not to exceed $500. |
| New York |
. |
All Amounts |
$20 |
If reason for bad check is no existing bank account, damages can be twice the face amount of the check or $750, whichever is less. If reason is NSF, damages can be twice amount of the check or $400, whichever is less. |
| North Carolina |
> $2,000 |
< $2,000 |
$25 |
Treble the amount of the check, with a minimum of $100 and maximum of $500, in addition to amount of check, and processing and bank fees. |
| North Dakota |
> $500 |
> $50 |
$25 |
The lesser of $200, or three times the amount of the check. |
| Ohio |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$30 or 10%, whichever is greater. |
$200, or three times the amount of the check, all bank fees, court costs and attorneys’ fees. |
| Oklahoma |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$30 |
An amount not to exceed $5,000. |
| Oregon |
> $75 |
< $75 |
$25 |
$100, or triple the amount of the check, whichever is greater but not to exceed $500, and reasonable attorneys’ fees. |
| Pennsylvania |
> $75,000 |
< $75,000 |
$25 |
$100, or triple the amount of the check but not to exceed $500 the value of the check, whichever is greater. |
| Rhode Island |
> $100 |
< $1,000 |
$25 |
Amount of check, collection fee and an amount equal to three times the amount of the check, but in no case less than $200 but no more than $1,000. |
| South Carolina |
> $5,000 |
< $5,000 |
$30 |
The lesser of $500 or treble the amount of the check. May also be entitled to court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. |
| South Dakota |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$30 |
All reasonable costs and expenses of collection. |
| Tennessee |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$20 |
If fraudulent intent, treble the face amount of the check, not to exceed $500, otherwise, 10% interest per annum, service charges, court costs and attorney's fees. |
| Texas |
> $1,500 |
< $1,500 |
$25 |
None. |
| Utah |
> $1,000 |
< $1,000 |
$20 |
Interest; all costs of collection, including court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees equal to the greater of $100 or three times the check amount, not to exceed the check amount plus $500. |
| Vermont |
. |
All Amounts |
$25 |
Court cost, costs of service, the amount of the check, bank fees, interest, attorney's fees and damages in the amount of $50. |
| Virginia |
> $200 |
< $200 |
$35 |
Three times the amount of the check, up to a maximum amount of $250, in addition to the amount of the check, legal interest from the date of check, service fee and processing fee and attorney’s fees if awarded by the court. |
| Washington |
. |
All Amounts |
$30 |
Lesser of three times the amount of the check and reasonable attorneys’ fees or $300. |
| West Virginia |
> $500 |
< $500 |
$15 |
$500 or the amount of the check whichever is less, plus reasonable costs incurred in filing the action. |
| Wisconsin |
> $2,500 |
< $2,500 |
$30 |
Three times the amount of the check, and all actual costs of legal action, including attorneys’ fees, not to exceed $500. |
| Wyoming |
> $1,000 |
< $1,000 |
$30 |
Three times the amount of the check, but in no case less than $100, collection fees and court costs. Attorney fees may also be awarded. |