If the check that you are writing about is more than five (5) years old and the person or business to whom the check was issued cashes it, the maker of the check would still be responsible for the funds clearing assuming payment was for a valid debt.What is interesting is the fact that the bank allowed the check to clear given its age. Custom and practice is that banks do not accepts checks for deposit that are more than six (6) months old. I would call the representative of the business asking why the check was held for so long.