Bad Check Laws In Kentucky

Below are the civil and criminal penalties for writing a bad check in Kentucky and are enforceable by law if the maker of the dishonored check fails to pay the amount of the check plus any merchant's posted bad check handling fees not to exceed fifty dollars within ten days after receiving a notice of that refusal.

Civil Penalties: The merchant's posted bad check fee. Other fees and charges may also apply.

Criminal Penalties: If the amount of the dishonored check is less than $500 it is considered to be a Class A Misdemeanor which can result in a jail sentence of 90 days to 12 months. A Class D Felony can result if the check written was more than $500 but less than $10,000 and can end with a 1 to 5 year prison sentence being served. Amounts over $10,000 can result in a Class C Felony and can land you in jail for 5 to 10 years. The county attorney may charge a fee of fifty dollars to the maker of the check, even if the check is paid. (Reference: Chapter 514.040 and 514.090 of the Kentucky State Statutes)

The above penalties may not apply to post dated checks but do apply to child support payments and obligations.