Tax Refunds

• Many married couples use the "married filing jointly" status on their tax returns. If a married couple elects to receive a refund in the form of a paper check, the check is often made out to both the husband and wife. In this case, both must endorse the check before it can be cashed or deposited.
  
  

Title Company Checks

• A title company acts as an intermediary between the buyer and the lender during the purchase of a home or other property. A husband and wife often purchase a home together, so both of their names are on the deed. If the title company issues a check to a married couple, both the husband's and wife's names are usually on the check. Also, business partners may purchase a commercial property whereby both business partners' names are on a check from the title company. In both these instances, double signatures are required.
  
  

Gift Checks

• If a grandmother writes a check as a Christmas gift to a brother and sister, or if a friend writes a check to a pair of roommates as a housewarming gift, the check must be endorsed by all parties to whom the check is made out.
  
  

Considerations

• Situations can arise where two names are on a check but the bank will cash it with only one signature. This is the case if the word "or" is between the two names. Also, sometimes a forward slash is between the two names (/). According to the SECLOC Federal Credit Union, the symbol is treated as the word "or."
  
  Banks may require identification from all parties who have signed the check.