How to Check Whether a Money Order Was Cashed

You can check if a money order was cashed by getting in touch with the issuer online or by phone. Save your receipt when you get a money order so that you have its serial number. If you think a money order was lost or stolen, you usually can have it reissued for a fee.

A money order is similar to an ordinary check, except that it's prepaid rather than linked to money in a bank account. You can buy a money order from a variety of organizations, including the United States Postal Service, many banks or credit unions, and private companies such as MoneyGram and Western Union, which sell money orders through various merchants. Generally, you must pay cash for a money order, spending the amount you want to send plus a little extra in fees. The cap on money orders is $1,000 domestically and usually $700 internationally.

Make sure to address the money order to whomever you are sending it to right away so that someone can't steal it and write someone else's name on it. Also, hang on to the receipt you get with the money order for your records.

When you receive a money order addressed to you, you can deposit it at a bank by seeing a teller or putting it in an ATM that accepts deposits. You also can use a mobile deposit app. If you want to cash the money order, take it to a bank, check-cashing store or a merchant affiliated with the organization that issued it, including a post office if it's a postal money order.

If you want to know if a money order was cashed, contact the organization that issued it. Provide the serial number on the receipt you were issued. In some cases, you may be able to search online for information about your money order through the issuing organization's website. Otherwise, call by phone.

If you need a copy of the money order to show it was cashed, such as if you need evidence you paid a particular bill or debt, you often can obtain this for a fee.

If a money order is lost or stolen, contact the issuer immediately. You often can have it replaced, though you might have to pay a fee and it may take some time for the issuing organization to research. This fee can be greater if you don't have the original money order receipt, and you might need to provide a police report if the money order was stolen.