How to fill out a money order
Write the name of the person or company you're paying on the “Pay to” line, fill in your own name and address as the purchaser, add an account or invoice number in the memo field, and sign where it says purchaser or drawer. Keep the receipt stub: it's the only way to track or replace the money order.
Step by step
| Field | What to write |
|---|---|
| Pay to / Pay to the order of | The recipient’s full name, e.g. “Oakridge Property Management LLC” |
| Purchaser / From | Your name and address |
| Address (recipient) | Some forms ask for the payee’s address too |
| Memo / Account no. | What it’s for: “Rent, Unit 4B, November” or your account number |
| Signature | Sign on the purchaser or drawer line, not on the back |
The amount is printed by the seller when you buy it, so you don’t write it yourself. Fill in the payee straight away: a money order with a blank “Pay to” line can be cashed by anyone who finds it.
Where to buy one
- U.S. Post Office: up to $1,000 per money order, paid in cash, debit card or traveler’s checks.
- Retailers and check cashers: Walmart, grocery stores and convenience stores often sell Western Union or MoneyGram money orders, with their own limits.
- Banks and credit unions: some sell money orders to customers; others offer a cashier’s check instead.
Fees are usually a few dollars. Credit cards are generally not accepted.
Tracking and cancelling
Use the serial number on your receipt stub to check whether it has been cashed (USPS, Western Union and MoneyGram all have online lookup). If it’s lost or stolen and not cashed yet, the issuer can usually replace it for a fee, but it can take weeks. A cashed money order cannot be reversed.
Money order or check?
Landlords and some agencies ask for money orders because they can’t bounce. For regular payments from a business or household account, a check is cheaper and leaves a record in your check register. If the payee accepts checks, you can print one on plain or blank check stock in minutes.
Paying by check instead? Fill in payee, amount and memo, and CheckWriter.app prints a bank-ready check with the amount in words and your MICR line. Free to print; Pro ($9 a month) adds a register with search, void and CSV export.
Print a checkQuestions
Can I fill out a money order to myself?
Yes, you can make it payable to yourself and deposit it, but it’s rarely useful. It’s more common to make it payable to the person or business you’re paying.
What if I make a mistake on a money order?
Don’t cross out or use correction fluid; the payee may refuse it. Take it back to the seller and ask how to replace it; some issuers require a fee and the original.
How long is a money order good for?
USPS money orders don’t expire. Some retail money orders start charging a service fee if not cashed within a year.
Checked against USPS and issuer guidance on money orders, November 2026.