# minors and traveler's cheques

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minors-and-travelers-cheques/181047>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 11, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minors-and-travelers-cheques/181047 "2003-06-11T04:42:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hammerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hammerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammerbach)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minors-and-travelers-cheques/181047/1 "2003-06-11T04:42:47Z")

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I’m about to go on a trip with a troop of Boy Scouts, and the question came up as to whether a minor can sign and use traveler’s cheques. Anyone out there know the rules?

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**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minors-and-travelers-cheques/181047/2 "2003-06-11T05:13:19Z")

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Well, I started using them when I was 12. They were the American Express type.

Unless the rules have changed you should be just fine. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minors-and-travelers-cheques/181047/3 "2003-06-11T10:55:22Z")

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Minors can use them, but lots of places won’t accept them from minors. Businesses are not required to conduct business with minors as minors cannot legally enter into a contract (a sale is considered an oral contract).

Best check into pre-paid ATM cards or a credit card in your child’s name (which is guaranteed by the parents, of course).