re: Long story. My parents and “check washing”.

From CFPB WEBSITE

What does the bank have to do once I report it? Can I get my money back?
Once you notify your bank or credit union, it generally has ten business days to investigate the issue (20 business days if the account has been open less than 30 days). The bank or credit union must correct an error within one business day after determining that an error has occurred. Your bank or credit union then has three business days to report its findings to you.

If the bank or credit union can’t complete its investigation within ten (or 20) business days as applicable, it must generally issue a temporary credit to your account for the amount of the disputed transaction, minus a maximum of $50, while it continues to investigate.

In certain circumstances, however, it does not have to issue a temporary credit. For example, the bank or credit union may require you to provide written confirmation of the error if you initially provided the information by telephone. If you are asked to follow up in writing and you do not do so within ten business days, the bank or credit union is not required to temporarily credit your account during the course of its investigation.

The bank or credit union must then resolve the issue in 45 days, unless the disputed transactions were conducted in a foreign country, were conducted within 30 days of account opening, or were debit card point-of-sale purchases. In those cases, you may have to wait as long as 90 days for the issue to be fully resolved.

If the bank or credit union determines that the transactions were in fact authorized, it must provide you with written notice before taking the money that was credited to you during the investigation out of your account.