Do money orders expire? In most cases, no. Domestic U.S. Postal Service money orders never expire and hold their full value forever. Western Union and MoneyGram money orders also do not technically expire, but both companies deduct monthly service charges from the face value once the document has sat uncashed past a dormancy period, so the money slowly disappears even though the paper is still valid. The one true exception is the international postal money order, which expires one year from the date it was issued.
USPS Domestic Money Orders Hold Their Value Forever
A domestic postal money order can be cashed at any Post Office no matter how old it is. The USPS states that its domestic money orders never expire and do not accrue interest.1USPS. Money Orders No service charges or dormancy fees are deducted from the face value either, so a $500 postal money order found in a drawer twenty years later is still worth $500. This holds true for both the older green money orders and the redesigned red-and-blue version introduced in February 2025.2USPS. Money Orders – The Basics
International Postal Money Orders Expire After One Year
International postal money orders work differently. They are valid for only one year from the date of issuance, and the expiration date is printed on the face of the document. International orders are also capped at $400.3TFX: Treasury Financial Experience. Chapter 7000 Procedures for Processing Postal Money Orders If you are holding one that has passed its printed expiration, you will need to contact USPS about a possible reissuance rather than trying to cash it at a window.
Western Union and MoneyGram Charge Dormancy Fees
Western Union and MoneyGram both say their money orders do not technically expire. The catch is that each company starts deducting a monthly service charge from the face value after a dormancy period. For Western Union, that period ranges from one to three years depending on the state where the money order was purchased.4Western Union. Western Union Money Order MoneyGram begins deducting a monthly service charge once a money order has gone uncashed for more than one year.5MoneyGram. Frequently Asked Questions About Purchasing a Money Order
Those fees come straight out of the principal. A money order left alone long enough can shrink to zero. The specific monthly charge and the date fees begin are usually printed in the service-charge section on the back of the money order itself, so flip it over and read before assuming you know the number. Because the dormancy trigger varies by state, two money orders bought from the same company on the same day in different states can start losing value at different times.
What Happens If a Money Order Sits Uncashed for Years
If a money order stays uncashed long enough, the issuer is eventually required to turn the remaining funds over to a state government through a process called escheatment. Dormancy periods for this transfer vary by state but typically run between three and seven years for money orders. Once the funds have been transferred to the state, the paper money order can no longer be cashed at a retail location or Post Office.
The money isn’t gone. Every state runs an unclaimed property division where rightful owners can file a claim to recover escheated funds. You can search for unclaimed property under your name on your state treasurer’s or comptroller’s website. The claim process usually requires proof of identity and documentation tying you to the original purchase, so hang on to any receipts.
Check Whether the Money Order Was Already Cashed
Before chasing a refund or a replacement, confirm the money order hasn’t already been cashed by someone else. USPS has a free online status tool that uses the serial number, Post Office number, and dollar amount. You can also call the USPS Accounting Help Desk at 1-866-974-2733, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM ET.6USPS. Money Orders FAQs – Check Money Order Status
For a Western Union or MoneyGram money order, you’ll go through the issuer directly. Western Union has an online refund request form, and MoneyGram has an online replacement request process. Both require the serial number from the original purchase receipt.
Make Sure an Old Money Order Looks Genuine
A money order several years old should still carry its security features. For USPS, legacy green money orders include a Benjamin Franklin watermark visible when held to light and a vertical multicolored “USPS” security thread. The redesigned red-and-blue version has two watermarks (a Pony Express rider and the words “United States Postal Service” in a rectangular box), a security thread with “USPS” alternating right-side-up and upside-down, and a QR code linking to the USPS verification tool.7USPS. Verifying U.S. Postal Service Money Orders Discoloration around the dollar amount can mean someone altered the figure. If anything looks off, bring it to a Post Office rather than a check-cashing store or grocery kiosk, because postal clerks have more tools to verify authenticity.
How to Request a Refund or Replacement
To get a refund for an uncashed USPS money order, take your original purchase receipt to any Post Office and ask a retail associate to start a money order inquiry using PS Form 6401.1USPS. Money Orders You pay a separate processing fee for each inquiry. If the investigation confirms the money order was never cashed, USPS issues a refund; if it was cashed, you receive a copy of the cashed instrument instead. Refunds are issued 60 days or later from the original issue date of the money order.8USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry Older money orders can take longer.
Western Union charges a refund fee based on the face value of the money order: no fee for $5 or less, $5 for amounts from $5.01 to $99.99, and $15 for $100 or more. The fee is deducted from the money order amount if the refund is approved.9Western Union. Money Order Refund Request
MoneyGram charges a non-refundable processing fee for replacements: 50 percent of the face value for money orders from $6 to $49.99, and a $25 flat fee for $50 or more. MoneyGram also requires a minimum face value of $6 to process a replacement at all.10MoneyGram. Help for MoneyGram Money Orders
The original purchase receipt with the serial number is the single most useful document in any of these processes. Without it, the work gets slower and may cost more. Some issuers can search their records if you can give the approximate purchase date and location, but expect additional fees.
If the Money Order Was Made Out to Someone Who Died
A money order payable to someone who has passed away can be endorsed and cashed by the executor or court-appointed administrator of the estate. For USPS money orders, if an executor or administrator endorses the instrument and a bank presents it for payment, the Postal Service pays it without requiring extra proof of the executor’s authority. When no executor has been appointed, or there is a dispute over whether the proceeds belong to the estate, the money order should be returned to the USPS Money Order Division in St. Louis for a determination under applicable state law.11eCFR. 39 CFR 762.31 – Disbursement Postal Money Orders Issued to Deceased Payees Western Union and MoneyGram each have their own estate claims processes, handled directly through the company.