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Yes, usually, if you kept the purchase receipt. USPS replaces lost money orders after a Form 6401 inquiry; Western Union and MoneyGram take research or claim requests through forms or portals. Expect a modest processing fee and a wait of several weeks. If the money order was already cashed, you will not get a refund, but you can get a photocopy of the endorsed instrument.
LetterAgent mails physical letters; it cannot replace a money order. This guide walks through the recovery process at each major issuer.
Your purchase receipt is the single most important item. It carries the money order's serial number, which is how the issuer finds your instrument in its system. You will also need the exact amount, the date and location of purchase, and a valid photo ID. File a separate form and pay a separate fee for each lost money order: one claim cannot cover several.
| Issuer | How to file | Fee | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | PS Form 6401, Money Order Inquiry, at any post office | A processing fee per money order, paid when you file | Several weeks; USPS issues refunds only after a set period has passed since the original issue date |
| Western Union | Money Order Research or Photocopy Request form, mailed with payment | A flat research fee, non-refundable | A few weeks after they receive the form |
| MoneyGram | Claim forms through their service forms page or agent location | Fees vary by the face value of the money order; free if canceled within the first hour | Roughly three to six weeks |
Bring your receipt to any post office and ask for a Money Order Inquiry. The clerk helps you complete PS Form 6401, and you can track the inquiry's status through the USPS Money Orders application online. If the money order turns out to be uncashed, USPS issues a replacement (you will not get your money back as cash, but you can have the replacement made out to yourself). USPS money orders never expire, so even an old instrument can be traced. If the money order was already cashed, you can get a copy of the endorsed instrument, which is useful if you suspect fraud.
It is harder, but not always hopeless. File the inquiry anyway with whatever you remember: the amount, the date, and the location. If you paid with a debit card, bring the bank statement showing the transaction; it will not replace the serial number, but it gives the issuer something to search on. Without the serial number, though, the odds drop sharply. This is the case for photographing receipts the moment you buy a money order: it costs nothing and saves the entire process later.
You will not get the money back through the standard claim process, because from the issuer's point of view the instrument did its job. What you can get is a photocopy of the cashed money order, showing who endorsed it. If the endorsement is not yours, take that copy to your local police and file a report: it is evidence of forgery. For a USPS money order, the Postal Inspection Service handles mail-related fraud. This is also why you should check your state's unclaimed-property database if years have passed: long-dormant funds sometimes get swept there instead of being refunded.
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