Cheque Bounce Legal Notice — Section 138
A cheque has been dishonoured and you have 30 days from the bank’s return memo to send a statutory notice. Miss the window and you lose the right to a criminal complaint — a lawyer-drafted notice, signed and stamped by a licensed advocate, keeps you inside the deadline.
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What your notice covers
A Section 138 notice has strict statutory requirements — the wrong cheque particulars, a missed deadline, or a vague demand can invalidate the entire criminal complaint that follows. Every notice we draft is built around what the Negotiable Instruments Act actually requires.
This notice is drafted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881, sent within 30 days of the bank’s dishonour memo and demanding payment within 15 days as the Act requires. It is signed and issued by a bar-licensed advocate on letterhead, which is expected practice before filing a criminal complaint.
Cheque number, date, amount, and drawee bank — stated precisely so the notice cannot be challenged on identification grounds.
The bank’s return memo date and reason (insufficient funds, signature mismatch, etc.), which anchors the 30-day clock.
What the cheque was issued for — a loan, invoice, or other debt — establishing a legally enforceable debt as Section 138 requires.
The statutory 15-day window to pay before a criminal complaint becomes maintainable.
The criminal complaint and penalty exposure that follows non-payment, stated to make the notice’s seriousness clear.
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Who this is for
Freelancers & consultants
Client cheques for invoices that bounced.
Vendors & suppliers
Business payment cheques returned unpaid.
Individuals owed a loan
Repayment cheques that failed to clear.
Landlords
Rent cheques dishonoured by tenants.
Small businesses (MSMEs)
Customer payment cheques that bounced.
Lenders & NBFCs
EMI or repayment cheques returned by the bank.
Why ContractDesk
Lawyer drafted, advocate verified
Every notice is drafted by our legal team, then reviewed and signed by a licensed advocate before it goes out.
Built around the 30-day deadline
The questionnaire captures dates precisely so your notice stays within the statutory window.
Cites Section 138 correctly
Grounded in the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 — not generic demand language.
Fixed, transparent pricing
Flat ₹3999 per notice — no hourly billing.
24–48 hour delivery
A signed, ready-to-send notice back within two days.
Guided, 10-minute process
Answer straightforward questions about the cheque and the underlying debt.
What clients say
5.0★ average from 5 verified reviews“We were under pressure to sign a customer agreement with a UK client within 48 hours. ContractDesk reviewed the contract the same day, flagged a few risky clauses around liability and payment terms, and suggested practical revisions that the client accepted without much negotiation. The process was smooth and the advice was genuinely commercial, not just legal.”
“As our startup started closing enterprise customers, our contracts became far more complex. ContractDesk has become our go to legal partner for reviewing MSAs, NDAs, and SaaS agreements. Their comments are easy to understand, turnaround is consistently fast, and the quality has been excellent”
“The trademark registration process was much smoother than I expected. The team first checked whether my brand name was available, explained the risks in plain English, and handled the filing end to end. They kept me updated throughout the process and were always available to answer questions. Great experience overall.”
Simple, fixed notice pricing
One flat price per notice — never by the hour. Every notice is advocate-verified before it goes out.
What happens after it’s drafted
A subscription plan doesn’t just include the drafting — it stores the result. Every contract lands in a searchable repository, with renewal alerts set automatically and approval workflows for your team, so it’s never just a file sitting in someone’s inbox.
Frequently asked questions
You must send the notice within 30 days of receiving the bank’s cheque return (dishonour) memo. Missing this deadline forfeits your right to file a criminal complaint under Section 138.
Related review services
Answers to common contract review questions.
Unpaid invoices, loans, and business dues.
Unpaid wages and employment dues.
Formal notice for contractual non-performance.
Browse every notice type ContractDesk drafts.
Stay inside the 30-day window.
Lawyer drafted, advocate-verified, signed on letterhead. Flat ₹3999 per notice, ready in 24–48 hours.
Free AI scan is instant · Lawyer review in 24–48 hours5.0/5 from 5 verified reviews