When certification is necessary, the maker of the check should be the one to have it certified. If you take Brown's check to his bank and have it certified, you release Brown entirely and can only hold the bank. For example,--a man sold a piece of land, and, on delivering the deed, took the purchaser's uncertified check. After the purchaser had left with the deed, the seller, thinking the check might not be good, had it certified. The bank failed that afternoon. The purchaser proved that he had more than the amount of the check to his credit on the bank's books. On consultation with his lawyers, the seller found that he had no claim on the drawer of that check and could only file his claim against the bank with its other depositors. And he only received about fifty cents on the dollar when the bank's affairs were finally wound up. All because he did not insist on the purchaser of the land having his own check certified. If he had done this he could have held both the purchaser and the bank. By having your check certified, you practically exchange your check for one guaranteed by the bank. For example, the bank certifies your check for $100.00. It immediately _charges_ your account with the $100.00, and _credits_ its "certified check account" with $100.00. Then when your certified check comes back to the bank, through the person to whom you delivered it, the bank _charges_ its "certified check account" with $100.00, and the transaction is closed. Therefore, if, for any reason, you decide not to use a check after you have had it certified, _do not destroy it as you would an uncertified check_. Be sure to bring it back to the bank so that the amount may be _credited_ your account, and be _charged_ to the bank's "certified check account." Otherwise your account will remain charged with the amount and your balance will show that much less. X PROTESTING NOTES, DRAFTS, ETC. WHY NECESSARY AND HOW IT IS EXECUTED Protesting notes, drafts, checks, or other commercial paper is simply warning or giving notice to people, _secondarily_ liable on that paper, that it has not been paid when due. The person who ought to pay the paper is _primarily_ liable. All other persons who have endorsed the paper or drawn it on another person, firm or bank are _secondarily_ liable. You have endorsed Brown's note. Brown does not pay it when due. If you do not receive a prompt notice of this, you might endorse another note for Brown under the false impression that he had paid the first one.