A cheque bounce notice with every deadline worked out
When a cheque bounces in India, the payee has to send a written demand before a criminal case can be filed. This free cheque bounce notice generator drafts that notice under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 from the cheque details, the return memo and the drawer’s address — sent by you or by your advocate — and works out the dates that decide whether the case survives: when the cheque expired, the last day to send the notice, the drawer’s 15 days and the window for the complaint.
You get a clean A4 or Letter notice as a PDF or Word file, ready to print, sign and post. Everything is built in your browser and nothing you type is uploaded. It is a draft to edit, not legal advice: get a lawyer to check it before you send it, because mistakes in a Section 138 notice are hard to fix later.
How to use the Cheque Bounce Notice Generator
- Choose whether you send the notice yourself or through an advocate, and fill in the payee’s name and address.
- Enter the drawer’s name and address — for a company cheque, add the directors in charge on separate lines.
- Fill in the cheque number, date, amount, bank, what it was for, when you presented it and the return memo details.
- Check the key dates: the notice must go out within 30 days of the day you received the return memo.
- Download the PDF or Word file, sign it and send it by Registered Post A.D. or Speed Post; later, enter the delivery date to see the complaint window.
Cheque Bounce Notice Generator features
Deadlines as you type
Three-month cheque validity, the 30-day notice limit, the 15 days to pay and the one-month complaint window, with a live count of days left.
Errors flagged
A notice dated after the 30 days, a cheque presented after its validity or a missing detail shows up before you download.
Cheque amount kept separate
Notice costs or interest go in their own paragraph, so the demand for the cheque amount stays clear.
You or your advocate
Switches the opening, the wording and the signature block to “my client”, with the enrolment number.
PDF, Word, print or copy
One model drawn four ways; drafts stay on this device.
The Section 138 timeline (as of 30 October 2026)
Sources: the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (Sections 138 and 142, as reproduced in court judgments and on Indian Kanoon — India Code did not respond when checked) and RBI circular DBOD.AML.BC.No.47/14.01.001/2011-12 of 4 November 2011. Days are counted the Limitation Act way: the starting day is excluded. The complaint date shown is counted from the drawer’s last day to pay, the earlier of the two readings courts use. To check any other deadline, try the limitation period calculator.
| Step | Time limit | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Present the cheque | Within three months of its date | Section 138 proviso (a): six months or the validity period, whichever is earlier; RBI cut validity to three months from 1 April 2012 |
| Send the demand notice | Within 30 days of receiving the bank’s information of dishonour | Section 138 proviso (b) |
| Drawer pays | Within 15 days of receiving the notice | Section 138 proviso (c) |
| File the complaint | Within one month of the cause of action (after the 15 days end) | Section 142(1)(b); a court may condone delay for sufficient cause |
Mistakes that weaken a cheque bounce case
- Sending the notice late. Day 31 is too late; the 30 days are not extended because the memo sat in a drawer.
- Demanding a different amount. The notice must demand the cheque amount. Interest or costs can be claimed, but separately and clearly.
- Wrong or incomplete address. Use the drawer’s known address; for a company, send it to the company and the directors in charge.
- No proof of dispatch. Keep the postal receipt, the tracking report and the A.D. card — they prove the dates in court.
After the notice
If the drawer pays within 15 days, the matter ends there. If not, the complaint goes to the magistrate’s court where your bank branch (the one you presented the cheque through) is located, under Section 142(2). The court fee for that complaint depends on the state — the court fee calculator includes Maharashtra’s Article 18 fee for Section 138 complaints. For other money disputes, such as a deposit a landlord will not return, use the legal notice generator.
Cheque Bounce Notice Generator FAQ
What is the time limit for a cheque bounce notice?
Thirty days from the day you receive the bank’s information that the cheque was dishonoured — usually the day you get the return memo. This cheque bounce notice generator shows that date and how many days are left.
Can I send a cheque bounce notice without a lawyer?
Yes. The law asks for a written notice from the payee or holder in due course; it does not have to come from an advocate. Many people still use one, and a lawyer should check the draft either way.
What happens if the drawer does not pay within 15 days?
The offence under Section 138 is complete, and you can file a complaint within one month. It is punishable with up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine up to twice the cheque amount, or both.
Does “payment stopped by drawer” count as a cheque bounce?
The Supreme Court has held that a cheque returned for stop payment or account closed can also attract Section 138 if the other conditions are met. Choose the reason printed on your memo.
Can I send the notice by WhatsApp or email?
Registered Post A.D. or Speed Post is the safe choice because it creates proof of dispatch and delivery. You can tick email or WhatsApp as additional modes.
Is this notice legally valid as it is?
It follows the usual format, but it is a template, not legal advice. Check every date and amount, and have a lawyer review it before you sign and send it.