Method for handling valuable documents having an aligning unit for aligning banknotes and checks

A method for handling notes of value comprising:

• transporting notes of value in a transport direction along a transport path with a transport unit;
• aligning the notes of value with an aligning unit;
• controlling the aligning unit with a control unit;
• identifying whether each one of the notes of value is a check or a banknote, and at least one dimension of each banknote, with a sensor unit arranged upstream of the aligning unit in the transport direction;
• and
• controlling the aligning unit with the control unit to align at least one check at a predetermined first target alignment align banknotes of a first width at a predetermined second target alignment, and align banknotes of a second width at a predetermined third target alignment;
• wherein each one of the first, second, and third target alignments are different.