How to Get a Copy of a Money Order

Money orders are financial instruments that can be purchased and used in place of bank checks and are available through the United States Postal Service or services such as Western Union. Although a receipt, in the form of a carbon copy or a stub, is issued with money orders, you may still need proof that one has been cashed. To do so, you will have to obtain a copy of the cleared money order from the issuer.

Things You'll Need

• Receipt from original money order purchase
• USPS Form 6401

Instructions

USPS Money Order Copies

1. Take the original carbon receipt from the USPS money order to your local United States Post Office.

2. Complete and sign form 6401 to begin an inquiry. You will need to provide the serial number, amount and issue date from the money order receipt and your name and mailing address. You will need to complete a separate form for each money order about which you are inquiring.

3. Pay the fee (currently $5.20) for each inquiry request. After your inquiry request is received and processed, a photocopy of the cleared money order will be mailed to you, if it has been cashed. If 60 days or more have passed since the purchase date and it has not been cashed, a replacement money order will be issued to you.

Getting Copies of Western Union Money Orders

1. Visit the Western Union website (see Resources) to download the "consumer affidavit-purchaser" form.

2. Complete the form, including the money order number, amount and date of purchase. Do not sign the form until you are in the presence of a notary public, who must also sign and notarize the form.

3. Mail the completed, notarized form and a $15 processing fee (by check or money order) to the address included on the instruction page of the form.

4. Allow 30 days for your request to be processed. If the money order has been cashed, you will receive a photocopy of the canceled money order. If the money order has not been cashed, a stop payment order will be issued and your money refunded.

5. If you do not have the number, use the "no money order number" form to place your request. Follow the instructions on the form and mail it, along with a $30 processing fee (by check or money order) to the address listed in the top right-hand corner of the form.

Obtaining Copies of MoneyGram International Money Orders

1. Visit the MoneyGram International website (see Resources) to download the "claim card (refund/photocopy request)."

2. Complete the form, including the money order serial number, date of purchase and amount of money order. You will also be asked to indicate the name and address of the location where the money order was purchased.

3. Include a photocopy of the money order receipt or stub and a $15 processing fee. Mail these items to the address listed on the top right-hand corner of the form. Allow 30 to 65 days for your request to be processed.

4. Download the "money order number search" form if you do not have the serial number from the original money order.

5. Complete the form, enclose a $30 processing fee, and mail it to the address listed on the top left-hand corner of the form. You will need to allow six to eight weeks for processing.

Tips & Warnings

• Call Western Union at 1-800-999-9660 to inquire about payment status of a Western Union money order if you are not able to download the appropriate forms from its website. Call MoneyGram International at 1-800-542-3590 if you are unable to download forms from its website.

• Illegible requests or those that do not include the fee payment will not be processed.

Resources

• USPS money order information
• About Western Union money orders
• MoneyGram International money order information