diff --git a/paych/paych.go b/paych/paych.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..70e667f27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paych/paych.go
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+package paych
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-lotus/chain/actors"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-lotus/chain/address"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-lotus/chain/state"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-lotus/chain/store"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-lotus/chain/types"
+
+	hamt "github.com/ipfs/go-hamt-ipld"
+)
+
+type paychMgrApi interface {
+	ChainCall(ctx context.Context, msg *types.Message, ts *types.TipSet) (*types.MessageReceipt, error)
+}
+
+type PaychManager struct {
+	chain *store.ChainStore
+	api   paychMgrApi
+	store *PaychStore
+}
+
+func NewManager(api paychMgrApi, chain *store.ChainStore, pchstore *PaychStore) *PaychManager {
+	return &PaychManager{
+		api:   api,
+		chain: chain,
+		store: pchstore,
+	}
+}
+
+func (pm *PaychManager) TrackChannel(ch address.Address) error {
+	return pm.store.TrackChannel(ch)
+}
+
+// checks if the given voucher is valid (is or could become spendable at some point)
+func (pm *PaychManager) CheckVoucherValid(ctx context.Context, ch address.Address, sv *types.SignedVoucher) error {
+	act, pca, err := pm.loadPaychState(ctx, ch)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// verify signature
+	vb, err := sv.SigningBytes()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := sv.Signature.Verify(pca.From, vb); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	sendAmount := sv.Amount
+
+	// now check the lane state
+	ls, ok := pca.LaneStates[fmt.Sprint(sv.Lane)]
+	if !ok {
+		// TODO: should check against vouchers in our local store too
+		// there might be something conflicting
+	} else {
+		if ls.Closed {
+			return fmt.Errorf("voucher is on a closed lane")
+		}
+		if ls.Nonce >= sv.Nonce {
+			return fmt.Errorf("nonce too low")
+		}
+
+		sendAmount = types.BigSub(sv.Amount, ls.Redeemed)
+	}
+
+	// TODO: also account for vouchers on other lanes we've received
+	newTotal := types.BigAdd(sendAmount, pca.ToSend)
+	if types.BigCmp(act.Balance, newTotal) < 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("not enough funds in channel to cover voucher")
+	}
+
+	if len(sv.Merges) != 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("dont currently support paych lane merges")
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// checks if the given voucher is currently spendable
+func (pm *PaychManager) CheckVoucherSpendable(ctx context.Context, ch address.Address, sv *types.SignedVoucher, secret []byte, proof []byte) (bool, error) {
+	owner, err := pm.getPaychOwner(ctx, ch)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	enc, err := actors.SerializeParams(&actors.PCAUpdateChannelStateParams{
+		Sv:     *sv,
+		Secret: secret,
+		Proof:  proof,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	ret, err := pm.api.ChainCall(ctx, &types.Message{
+		From:   owner,
+		To:     ch,
+		Method: actors.PCAMethods.UpdateChannelState,
+		Params: enc,
+	}, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	if ret.ExitCode != 0 {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+
+	return true, nil
+}
+
+func (pm *PaychManager) loadPaychState(ctx context.Context, ch address.Address) (*types.Actor, *actors.PaymentChannelActorState, error) {
+	st, err := pm.chain.TipSetState(pm.chain.GetHeaviestTipSet().Cids())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	cst := hamt.CSTFromBstore(pm.chain.Blockstore())
+	tree, err := state.LoadStateTree(cst, st)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	act, err := tree.GetActor(ch)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	var pcast actors.PaymentChannelActorState
+	if err := cst.Get(ctx, act.Head, &pcast); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	return act, &pcast, nil
+}
+
+func (pm *PaychManager) getPaychOwner(ctx context.Context, ch address.Address) (address.Address, error) {
+	ret, err := pm.api.ChainCall(ctx, &types.Message{
+		From:   ch,
+		To:     ch,
+		Method: actors.PCAMethods.GetOwner,
+	}, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return address.Undef, err
+	}
+
+	if ret.ExitCode != 0 {
+		return address.Undef, fmt.Errorf("failed to get payment channel owner (exit code %d)", ret.ExitCode)
+	}
+
+	return address.NewFromBytes(ret.Return)
+}
diff --git a/paych/store.go b/paych/store.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6f7d4bfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paych/store.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package paych
+
+import (
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-lotus/chain/address"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-lotus/chain/types"
+	"github.com/ipfs/go-datastore"
+)
+
+type PaychStore struct {
+	ds datastore.Batching
+}
+
+func NewPaychStore(ds datastore.Batching) *PaychStore {
+	return &PaychStore{
+		ds: ds,
+	}
+}
+
+func (ps *PaychStore) TrackChannel(ch address.Address) error {
+	panic("nyi")
+}
+
+func (ps *PaychStore) AddVoucher(sv *types.SignedVoucher) error {
+	panic("nyi")
+}
+
+func (ps *PaychStore) VouchersForPaych(addr address.Address) ([]*types.SignedVoucher, error) {
+	panic("nyi")
+}