How long to cash check??

We received a $400 fine from our HOA over a shed. We wrote the check, mailed it, and waited. It wasn't cashed in 8 weeks so we stopped payment on the check.
Board found out we stopped payment, demanded another check. We gave it to them and wrote a letter asking them to cash it within 14 days or we would stop payment on it too.
Well - they sent another letter stating they will contact the lawyer again if we stopped payment.
What I need to know is - how long can a HOA hold a check for payment before cashing it?
Why would they not just cash the check??

It's just a power trip (game) for the board. If you write your check to pay a debt why wouldn't the other party cash it?? What is the point of them holding it for months ?

AS I former banker, it is my understanding that under the Uniform Commercial Code, a check is considered stale dated after six (6) months. After which time a bank may or may not return the check. Simply carry it as an outstanding item and after a reasonable time, make an inquiry of the 'payee' as to whether or not they 'lost' the check.

KimT2 - A power trip for the Board or for you? It seems you're waisting everyone's time with this nonsense. Write the check, get a bank check or show up in person and pay cash with and a get a receipt for god's sake.

Oh - there's much more to the story. ** long reply warning**

We put up a shed in our back yard. Didn't submit plans for it. (None of the other 10 houses submitted plans either, but now all of a sudden they want to enforce the covenants.)
Anyway - they started sending letters demanding the shed be removed. We tried to communicate with them in person, and by mail. We asked them what kind of information they needed about the shed, and wondered why we were the only ones required to submit plans. (The shed sat in our yard for 18 months before they told us to remove it.)
We tore the shed down at their request, submitted pictures and plans, and it was approved. We then put the shed back up and thought all was okay. Then 4 months later we get a $400 bill in the mail for lawyer fees surrounding shed.$400 for telephone conversations between the VP of the HOA and the lawyer.
My husband saw the Pres. of the HOA in his yard talking to the Secretary. He walked up, shook his hand, and asked if he could tell him exactly what the $400 fee was for. The Pres state " It's a $400 asshole fee, and if you keep messing with us you'll get another one."
Well - long story short - we knew we would never win against a HOA, and we wrote the check. In the memo section I wrote exactly what the Pres. said the fee was for (asshole fee). They did not like that so they held the check for 6 weeks asking for another one with the memo removed. Sorry - I write what the check is for in the memo section of all my checks. If they didn't like that, then they shouldn't have made that statement.

They sent a letter with a copy of the minutes they had spent on the phone with the lawyer. It said the $400 was legal fees.
Yeah - the memo section on the check was something they could not control. That's probably what made them the maddest. They love control and power !

Are you on my HOA ?? No - wait, you just seem to have the personality of 3 or 4 people on my HOA... I didn't ask you for advice on what I wrote on the check. I know it was funny, and well deserved. One of those "you gotta know 'em " situations. Whatever.....