How To Fill Out a Money Order: Step-by-Step Guide

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Money orders are a secure and convenient way to make payments, especially if you don’t want to open a bank account or prefer not to use checks or cash. They are widely accepted and can be purchased from various locations, including post offices, banks and retail stores. If you’re new to using money orders, don’t worry — filling one out is a quick process.

How To Fill Out a Money Order: 5-Step Guide

You can use the following steps if you need to know how to fill out a money order from Western Union, the post office or any other issuer.

Step 1: Write the Recipient’s Name

Write the recipient’s name in the “pay to” or “pay to the order of” section as soon as you get the money order. If it’s left blank and then lost or stolen, the wrong person may fill their own name in the recipient field and cash it.

Good To Know

Some money orders also have a line for an address. But, what address do you put on a money order? It depends on the form.

Some money orders ask for the purchaser’s address, others for the recipient’s — and some for both. Double-check the labels to enter the correct one.

Step 2: Add Your Name as the Purchaser

Fill in your name and, if there’s a line for it, your address in the purchaser’s section. The section for your information could be labeled “purchaser,” “from,” “sender” or “remitter.”

You may think this information is unnecessary. However, if you’re paying a bill, you want to ensure the biller has enough information to credit the payment to your account or to contact you if there is a problem.

Step 3: Fill In the Memo Section

Some money orders have a memo line like checks do, so you can include a note or your bank account number if you’re paying a bill.

Once again, provide enough information to ensure that the biller has no questions regarding which account to credit.

Step 4: Sign Your Name

If required, sign the front of the money order. The line will say “purchaser’s signature” or something similar.

The back of the money order is saved for the recipient. That is where they will sign to confirm its receipt just as if they were cashing a check.

Keep In Mind

You might sign the back of a money order only if you’re making one out to yourself. In that case, check with your bank before depositing it via mobile deposit — not all banks allow it.

Make sure you double-check the money order before handing it over or mailing it.

Step 5: Keep the Receipt

Once completed, you can detach the receipt from the money order, and keep it in a safe place in case you need to get a refund for it. This is good to have in case you fill it out incorrectly or there are other issues with the transaction. 

If you alter it in any way to fix it, your recipient may not be able to cash it. However, if you have the receipt, you can get a replacement money order. You’ll also need the receipt to replace a lost or stolen one.

If you don’t have the receipt, you can request a refund from most issuers. Keep in mind, receiving a refund can take as long as 60 days. If the money order is cashed during that time, you may have to show proof of fraud to get your money back.

Key Points To Know About Money Orders

• You may need to know how to fill out a money order if you’re making a cash deposit on an apartment, sending money to family outside of the U.S. or wanting to keep your banking information private during a purchase.
• The maximum money order amount varies by issuer. For example, the biggest money order you can get at the post office is $1,000. However, some issuers may have a lower cap.
• To protect against fraud, financial institutions may not cash a money order missing essential information, like the recipient’s name or the purchaser’s signature. 
• If you’re paying a bill, the biller may not accept an incomplete money order either. Be sure to complete all fields to prevent problems or delays. 

Where To Buy a Money Order

You can buy money orders at many locations, including:

• Your bank or credit union
• The post office
• Western Union and MoneyGram locations
• Convenience stores, grocery stores, big-box stores and drug stores offering Western Union or MoneyGram services

Common Uses for Money Orders

Money orders make financing more accessible to people who do not have bank accounts. These are some of the common ways people use money orders:

• Sending payments to people who do not have bank accounts.
• Paying for rent, utilities or legal obligations.
• Secure transactions for online purchases.
• Sending money internationally — exchange rates impact the total cost. International money orders may take longer to deliver and have higher fees.

Money Order Mistakes To Avoid

Most money order mistakes come down to filling out inaccurate information.

• Some people might write the recipient’s name incorrectly or leave the amount or fields blank.
• It’s also common for people to lose the receipt or tracking number.
• If you make any errors on your money order, don’t use white-out or scribbles. Get a new money order instead and start fresh.

5 Alternatives To Using a Money Order

If using a money order isn’t the right option for you, consider these options for sending money:

• Cashier’s checks: They are available from your bank or credit union, sometimes for a fee.
• Zelle: This app allows you to send money from your bank account to someone else’s, often without a fee.
• PayPal: You can use this payment platform to send money to family or friends.
• Venmo: This app has social features and makes it easy to send money to people you know.
• Online bill pay: This free service is often available through the online banking platforms of banks or credit unions.

Conclusion

Because of the many ways you can send money without using a checking account, you might not have much need for money orders. But, for those times you need to use one as a secure payment method, you’ll want to know how to fill out a money order correctly to ensure the recipient can cash it.

Filling out the money order completely and double-checking it for accuracy can lead to a smooth experience. Always keep your receipt in case you need to request a replacement or refund. 

Daria Uhlig, Caitlyn Moorhead, Marc Guberti and Sean Dennison contributed to the reporting for this article.

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