How to Address "In Care of" Letters

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Sometimes you need to send letters or packages “in care of” a business or person when the person receiving the package is not a regular resident or does not typically receive packages at that address. The United States Postal Service recommends you place the symbol “C/O” in front of the name of the regular resident. This symbol indicates that the package postal service may deliver the letter to either recipient.

1 Write the address in pen or permanent marker

Write the address in pen or permanent marker. Make the handwriting legible and dark enough that it is readable at arms length.

2 Start writing the first letter

Start writing the first letter of the first line of the address at the center of the envelope. Align all successive address lines directly below the first.

3 Write the name

Write the name of the person you wish to receive the letter on the first line of the “To” address.

4 Place the symbol

Place the symbol “C/O” at the beginning of the second line of the address.

5 Write the name of the business or person to whom the delivery address belongs after the in care of symbol

Write the name of the business or person to whom the delivery address belongs after the “in care of” symbol.

6 Finish the address

Finish the address. Write the street address or PO Box on the third line and the city, state and zip code on the fourth line of the address.

Transplanted Yankee Erin Watson-Price lives in Birmingham, Ala., and has been writing freelance articles since 1997. She worked as writer/co-editor for Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue's newsletter, "The Long and the Short of It." In 2007 she obtained a certification as a copy editor. Watson-Price holds a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

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