Question

Maia wrote a check which said, "Pay to the order of Kevin Mathews $10.97." The next line of the check stated, "One thousand ninety-seven Dollars." In applying the rules of interpretation, how much should the drawee pay?

Answer 1

The drawee should pay the amount stated in words on a check in case of a discrepancy, which is 'One thousand ninety-seven Dollars' in this case.

Step-by-step explanation:

When interpreting a check, the legal amount of money that should be paid if there is a discrepancy between the written words and the numerical amount, is generally determined by the written words. In the situation described where Maia wrote a check that stated, "Pay to the order of Kevin Mathews $10.97" but also included the phrase "One thousand ninety-seven Dollars", there is a clear discrepancy. According to the rules of interpretation known as the legal certainty principle, the check should be processed for the amount spelled out in words, which is One thousand ninety-seven Dollars.