Drafting legal settlements, real estate escrow instructions, or bank drafts requires dual representation: numerals and spelled-out words. When writing checks for one million dollars, the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC Section 3-114) establishes that written words prevail over numerical digits if a contradiction arises.
On the numeric entry line of a standard check, write:
$1,000,000.00
Ensure the first digit sits flush against the printed dollar sign to prevent fraudulent insertion of additional numbers.
On the legal line (the line ending with "DOLLARS"), write out the exact words:
One million and 00/100
Draw a solid horizontal line through any empty space remaining on the legal line. This stops unauthorized third parties from altering the sum.
In contracts, commercial loan agreements, and real estate purchases, standard legal drafting conventions pair both formats to prevent clerical disputes: "The Buyer shall deposit a sum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) into escrow."
