We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners.
How to Fill Out a Money Order Step-by-Step
Fill in the recipient and your address; for bills, include an account number; sign it; keep proof of payment.
Margarette Burnette is a NerdWallet authority on savings, who has been writing about bank accounts since before the Great Recession. Her work has been featured in The Associated Press, USA Today and other major newspapers. Before joining NerdWallet, Margarette was a freelance journalist with bylines in magazines such as Good Housekeeping, Black Enterprise and Parenting. She is based near Atlanta, Georgia.
Wealth psychology expert and coach Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, founder of KBK Wealth Connection and host of the Breaking Money Silence podcast, is an internationally published author and speaker. As an expert on financial psychology, Kathleen has appeared on television and her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, "PBS NewsHour," Money magazine, Today Money, Forbes and CNBC. Kathleen served as an adjunct faculty member at the McCallum Graduate School at Bentley University from 2009 to 2019 and currently teaches at Champlain College.
At NerdWallet, our content goes through a rigorous editorial review process. We have such confidence in our accurate and useful content that we let outside experts inspect our work.
Yuliya Goldshteyn is a former banking editor at NerdWallet. She previously worked as an editor, a writer and a research analyst in industries ranging from health care to market research. She earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of California, Berkeley and a master's degree in social sciences from the University of Chicago, with a focus on Soviet cultural history. She is based in Portland, Oregon.
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Steps to fill out a money order: Quick summary
Follow these five simple steps for filling out a money order:
Fill in the recipient's name.
Write your address in the purchaser section.
Include your account number if you're paying a bill.
Sign where it says "purchaser's signature."
Keep your receipt.
5 steps to fill out a money order
Figuring out how to write a money order can be confusing, but it's essential that you do it correctly. By following these five steps, you can make sure your funds are delivered to the right person or business.
1. Fill in the recipient’s name
Write the name of the person or business that will receive the money order on the line that starts with "Pay to the Order Of."
The recipient will be the only person or company authorized to deposit or cash the money order. It's a good idea to fill out this section as soon as possible to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands, and make sure to spell the name correctly so your recipient will have no problem cashing it.
You're the purchaser, so your information goes in this section, which might also be labeled “from,” “remitter” or “sender.” This is required so the recipient knows how to contact you if there are questions or issues with the payment. Sometimes your full name is also required.
3. Include your account number if you're paying a bill
Some money orders have a “payment for/account number” field. If you’re paying a utility bill, for example, include your utility department account number (which you should be able to find on your bill) in this field. Providing your specific account number helps make sure the payment goes toward what you owe on your account.
4. Sign the bottom where it says 'purchaser’s signature'
Your signature is important here, because it makes the money order official. Your signature goes on the front of the money order. Don't sign the back. That area is for the person who receives it.
4.50%SoFi members with Direct Deposit or $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 4.50% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 8/27/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
4.50%4.50% APY for $0 to <$250k; 4.80% APY for $250k+ balance
Min. balance for APY
$0
These cash accounts combine services and features similar to checking, savings and/or investment accounts in one product. Cash management accounts are typically offered by non-bank financial institutions.
These cash accounts combine services and features similar to checking, savings and/or investment accounts in one product. Cash management accounts are typically offered by non-bank financial institutions.
5.50%*Current promotional rate; annual percentage yield (variable) is 5.50% as of 4/2/24, plus a .50% boost available as a special offer with qualifying deposit. Terms apply; if the base APY increases or decreases, you’ll get the .75% boost on the updated rate. Cash Reserve is only available to clients of Betterment LLC, which is not a bank; cash transfers to program banks conducted through clients’ brokerage accounts at Betterment Securities.
Min. balance for APY
$0
CDs (certificates of deposit) are a type of savings account with a fixed rate and term, and usually have higher interest rates than regular savings accounts.
CDs (certificates of deposit) are a type of savings account with a fixed rate and term, and usually have higher interest rates than regular savings accounts.
Your receipt will come as a detachable part of the money order you just filled out. You might also receive a separate receipt from the cashier when you buy the money order. Keep your receipt as your proof of payment and store it in a safe place. If you lose a money order or make a mistake filling it out, you may be able to cancel it and get your money back if you take certain steps. The receipt will provide helpful information in such a situation.
When you know how to fill out a money order correctly, you have a good option for transferring money. Unlike writing a check from a personal bank account or handing over cash, a money order gives you proof of payment and assures the recipient that the funds are guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Whose address do you put on a money order?
If you’re sending a money order, you’ll need to put your own address in the purchaser section. This section might be labeled “from,” “remitter” or “sender” rather than “purchaser.”
What are the steps for how to fill out a MoneyGram money order?
To fill out any money order — including a MoneyGram money order, a Western Union money order or a Chase money order — follow five simple steps:
Fill in the recipient's name.
Write your address in the purchaser section.
Include your account number if you're paying a bill.
Sign where it says "purchaser's signature."
Keep your receipt.
Whose address do you put on a money order?
If you’re sending a money order, you’ll need to put your own address in the purchaser section. This section might be labeled “from,” “remitter” or “sender” rather than “purchaser.”
What are the steps for how to fill out a MoneyGram money order?
