Protest

Formal notice that a bank has refused to pay a check or other Negotiable Instrument properly and legally presented for payment. Protest is a means of legally proving that presentment was made, but rarely is used. Modern banking systems provide a sufficient Audit Trail to verify the conditions under which presentment was made. When a check is dishonored by the drawee bank, it can be presented a second time by a notary public or other public official. If the drawee bank still refuses to pay, an official statement is attached to the instrument, legally certifying that presentment was made and that the instrument was dishonored.