To fill out a money order, write the recipient’s full legal name on the “Pay to the Order of” line, add your own name and address in the purchaser section, note what the payment is for on the memo line, and sign the front where it says “Purchaser’s signature.” Do all of this at the counter immediately after you pay, because a blank money order is essentially cash to whoever picks it up.
The Fields You Need to Fill In
Every money order has the same core fields, though the layout shifts a little between issuers. Bring the recipient’s exact name and any account number with you so you can finish the form before you leave the counter.
- Pay to the Order of. Write the full legal name of the person or business receiving the payment, spelled exactly the way their bank or landlord expects it. Never leave this line blank, even for a moment.
- Purchaser, From, or Sender. Write your full name and address. This tells the recipient who sent the payment and gives them a way to reach you if something goes wrong.
- Memo, Payment For, or Account Number. Use this line to note what the payment covers. For a bill, write the account number. For rent, write the month and unit number. It isn’t technically required, but it prevents disputes about what the money was for.
- Purchaser’s Signature. Sign the front of the money order. This is your signature as the buyer. Do not sign the back.
The dollar amount is usually printed by the clerk when you pay, so you don’t write it in yourself. Check that the printed amount matches what you asked for before you leave.
Sign the Front, Not the Back
One of the most common mistakes is signing the back of the money order instead of the front. The back is reserved for the payee’s endorsement when they cash or deposit it. If you sign both sides, the money order can be rejected or cause confusion at the bank. The front signature line is labeled something like “Purchaser’s signature” or “Signature of Sender.” That is the only line you sign.
Keep the Receipt
After the clerk processes your payment, you’ll get a receipt or a detachable stub attached to the money order itself. It carries the serial number, the post office or store number, and the amount. This small piece of paper is your only proof that you bought the money order, and you’ll need it to track the payment, request a replacement, or prove you paid in a dispute.
Store the receipt separately from the money order. If you mail the money order and it gets lost, having the receipt at home means you can still file a claim. If both disappear together, the replacement process gets significantly harder.
USPS runs a free online tool for checking whether a money order has been cashed. You enter three pieces of information from the receipt: the serial number, the post office number where you bought it, and the dollar amount.1USPS. Money Orders The system tells you whether it’s still outstanding or has been processed. Private issuers list a customer service number or website on their receipts for the same purpose.
If You Make a Mistake or Lose It
You cannot cross out and correct a mistake on a money order the way you might on a personal check. If you write the wrong name on the payee line or make another error, you’ll need to request a refund or replacement from the issuer rather than altering what’s on the form. Any sign of correction can lead the recipient’s bank to reject it.
For a USPS money order that’s lost or stolen, you cannot stop payment the way you can cancel a check, but you can request a replacement. Take your original receipt to any post office, fill out a Money Order Inquiry form, and pay a $21.00 processing fee.2USPS. Money Orders The investigation can take up to 60 days. If USPS confirms the money order was not cashed, they issue a replacement. If someone already cashed it fraudulently, the process takes longer and may involve the Postal Inspection Service.
Without the receipt, you’re in a difficult spot. You’ll need to reconstruct details like the approximate date and location of purchase, which slows everything down.
USPS domestic money orders never expire and do not accrue interest.2USPS. Money Orders If you find an old one in a drawer, it’s still valid. Some private issuers do deduct dormancy fees from the face value of uncashed money orders after a period of inactivity, so check the fine print on non-USPS money orders.
Payment Methods at the Counter
You can’t fill out a money order until you’ve paid for one, and the payment rules are narrower than people expect. USPS accepts only cash and PIN-based debit cards. Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted.3USPS. Money Orders – The Basics Most other issuers follow similar rules. The credit card restriction exists because card networks classify money order purchases as cash advances, which trigger immediate interest charges and fees rather than the standard grace period on regular purchases.
USPS fees are tiered by face value:
- $0.01 to $500.00: $2.55
- $500.01 to $1,000.00: $3.60
- Military postal money orders: $0.84
Fees are paid on top of the face value.2USPS. Money Orders The $1,000 ceiling is the maximum for a single USPS money order, and most private issuers like Western Union and MoneyGram apply a similar cap. If you need to send more than $1,000, you’ll buy multiple money orders, each with its own fee.
Mailing or Delivering It
Hand-delivering a money order is the simplest option and lets you confirm the recipient gets it. If you need to mail it, place it inside an envelope the way you would a check. Don’t fold it more than necessary, and never staple anything to the face of the document. For added security on a large payment, USPS Certified Mail provides a mailing receipt and electronic delivery confirmation; a return receipt gives you a signed confirmation from the recipient.4USPS. Notice 123 – Price List Effective January 18, 2026
If weeks go by and the money order hasn’t been cashed, contact the recipient to confirm they received it before you file a lost-payment claim. Money orders sometimes sit in an organization’s incoming mail longer than you’d expect, especially where payments are processed in batches.
A Few Boundaries Worth Knowing
If you’re buying $3,000 or more in money orders with cash in a single transaction, federal regulations require the seller to verify your identity with a government-issued photo ID and record your name, address, and the transaction details.5eCFR. 31 CFR 1010.415 – Purchases of Bank Checks and Drafts, Cashiers Checks, Money Orders and Travelers Checks This is routine compliance, not a sign that anything is wrong with your purchase.
For international payments, USPS no longer offers an option. The agency stopped selling international postal money orders in October 2024 and stopped cashing foreign-issued ones as of October 1, 2025.6USPS. Sending Money Internationally Domestic USPS money orders are not designed for use abroad and may not be accepted by foreign banks or postal systems. If you’re holding an unredeemed USPS international money order from before the cutoff, contact your local post office about redemption.