How to Fill Out a Money Order

How to Get a Money Order

When you're ready to purchase a money order, follow these quick steps. You can get a money order from:

• Your bank or credit union
• Grocery or convenience stores
• The post office
• A check-cashing company

When you get a money order, be prepared to provide payment upfront in cash, or with a debit card or bank account if you're dealing with your financial institution. Money orders typically cost $1 to $5.

Tip: Using a credit card could trigger costly cash advance fees, so proceed with caution and consider using alternate payment methods.

Steps to Fill Out a Money Order

Here's how to fill out a money order.

1. Write in the Recipient's Name

Double-check to make sure you have the correct name and spelling. Filling out a money order incorrectly can cause issues for both you and the recipient. The recipient will most likely need to present ID when they cash the money order, and the names need to match.

2. Write Your Name and Address in the Purchaser's Section

The address should be yours, not the recipient's.

3. Fill in the Amount of the Money Order

Write in the exact value of the money order, both in numerals and spelled out in words.

4. Add a Memo, if You'd Like

The memo section is for optional information you may want to include, such as your account number if you're paying a bill.

5. Sign the Money Order

Your signature on the money order makes it official.

6. Keep the Receipt

Hold on to the receipt from your money order until you've confirmed that the recipient has received and cashed or deposited the funds. The receipt allows you to cancel the money order if anything goes wrong and to prove that you sent it if the recipient says they didn't receive it.

How to Cash a Money Order

Cashing a money order is simple. Just remember these tips:

• Go to your bank or credit union. You can deposit a money order to your savings or checking account, much as you would a check. You can also exchange it for cash.
• Cash the money order where it was issued. Alternatively, you can find the company that issued the money order (such as Western Union) and cash it at one of their locations.
• Bring your ID. To cash a money order, you'll need to verify your identity. Bring your government-issued ID with you: a driver's license, passport, state government ID card or military ID. If the name on your money order doesn't match your actual name, the person who sent the money order will need to cancel it and send a new one.

Tip: Money orders don't expire, but you may incur a fee if it isn't cashed within a certain number of days.

How to Protect Yourself From Money Order Scams

Money orders are a secure way of sending money. Unfortunately, they can also be a tool for money order scammers. Before you send or cash a money order, consider these tips to help ensure your money order transaction is on the up and up.

Know the Recipient

Before sending a money order, verify that the recipient is real and reputable. A vendor that only accepts money orders is a rare bird in today's marketplace.

Verify the Source

Similarly, be skeptical of someone you don't know sending you a money order. You can call the issuer of the money order (the bank, credit union or provider, such as Western Union) and ask if the money order is valid.

Allow Time for Funds to Settle

If you've deposited a money order from an unfamiliar source, give the funds time to settle in your account before spending them. Your financial institution can take several days or longer to determine whether a money order is fake. If there is a problem and you've spent the money, you may incur overdraft fees

Be Wary of Refund Requests

Someone you don't know sent you a money order, and now they're asking you to send part of the money back. This is a common sign of fraud. Don't deposit a money order from someone you don't know, especially if they want you to return a portion of the money. If you've already deposited the money, contact your bank and ask them for help.

Tip: Money orders aren't your only option when you want to send (or be sent) funds. Also consider cashier's checks, wire transfers or person-to-person payment apps.

The Bottom Line

Money orders are a time-honored way to pay or be paid. But now that it's possible to exchange money using credit cards, debit cards and person-to-person payment apps like Venmo and CashApp, money orders aren't as common as they once were. Money orders also lack features like zero-liability fraud protection that protect you when you use a credit card.

Before you purchase or cash a money order, take extra precautions. It's best to know the person or company that will be receiving your money order, or the person or company that sent you one. If you feel skeptical, take extra steps to learn about the recipient or payer. When in doubt, you may want to avoid or cancel the transaction just to be safe.