To seek a replacement for a lost or stolen domestic U.S. Postal Service money order, take your receipt to a Post Office and ask a retail associate to start a Money Order Inquiry. USPS says you cannot stop payment on a postal money order.
Check the money order's status
The USPS money orders page[1] links to the Money Orders Application. To check a money order you purchased, have its:
- Serial number
- Post Office number
- Dollar amount
The receipt helps you track the payment and provides proof of value if the money order is lost, stolen or damaged. After you start an inquiry at the counter, the application can also show inquiry progress.
Replacement fee and timing
USPS lists a $23 processing fee to replace a lost or stolen money order. It describes two time periods separately: confirming loss or theft may take up to 30 days, and investigating a money order's lost or stolen status may take up to 60 days.
When the money order is confirmed lost or stolen, USPS says it will issue a replacement money order.
A defective or damaged postal money order has a separate procedure: bring the damaged order and your receipt to your local Post Office for a replacement.
