A domestic money order from the U.S. Postal Service is good forever. It never expires, never accrues interest, and is cashed for the exact amount printed on the face, no matter how many years have passed since you bought it.1USPS. Money Orders Money orders from private issuers like MoneyGram and Western Union also carry no printed expiration date, but they behave differently in one important way: after about a year sitting uncashed, monthly service charges can start eating into the balance. So how long a money order is good for really depends on who issued it, and whether “good” means still valid or still worth what you paid.
USPS Domestic Money Orders Never Expire
The Postal Service is explicit on this point. A domestic USPS money order does not expire, does not lose value over time, and is not subject to dormancy or service fees.1USPS. Money Orders Find one in a drawer ten years from now and it is still worth every cent of the face value.
One built-in limit: a single domestic USPS money order can be issued for no more than $1,000.1USPS. Money Orders Anything showing a face value higher than that is not a genuine USPS domestic money order.
International USPS Money Orders Are the Exception
International postal money orders are a different product with a hard time limit. Under the Treasury Financial Manual, they are valid for one year, with the expiration date printed on the front.2U.S. Department of the Treasury. Treasury Financial Manual Volume II Part 4 Chapter 7000 – Procedures For Processing Postal Money Orders USPS also says no claim for improper payment on an international money order is allowed more than one year after payment.3USPS. Money Orders – The Basics If you are holding one past that date, your route is to contact USPS about a replacement, not to try to cash it.
MoneyGram and Western Union: No Expiration, but Fees Chip Away
Both major private issuers say their money orders do not expire. The catch is a monthly service charge that begins after a waiting period and keeps deducting from the face value until the money order is cashed or the balance runs out.
- MoneyGram: a monthly service charge may begin once the money order has been uncashed for one year. The amount varies and is printed in the service charge section on the back of the money order.4MoneyGram. Frequently Asked Questions About Purchasing a Money Order
- Western Union: a non-refundable service charge may be deducted from the face value if the money order goes unused for one to three years after purchase, depending on the state where it was bought.5Western Union. Western Union Money Order
So the private-issuer money order in your drawer may still be honored, but it may not be worth the full amount you paid. That is the distinction to keep in mind: valid is not the same as worth face value.
How the Dormancy Fees Work
Private issuers treat uncashed money orders as a long-term liability. Once the dormancy period passes, typically somewhere in the one-to-three-year range, monthly service charges apply and continue every month until you cash the money order or the balance hits zero. There is no single national rule; fees and triggers are set by the contract printed on the back of the money order and by state law.
If you are holding an older MoneyGram or Western Union money order and cannot read the fine print, call the issuer with the serial number before you try to deposit it. They can tell you what the remaining balance actually is.
After Several Years, the Money Goes to the State
Every state has an unclaimed property law that requires companies, including money order issuers, to turn uncashed balances over to the state treasury after a set dormancy period. This is called escheatment. For money orders, the dormancy period generally runs from about three to seven years after the purchase date, with three- or five-year windows being the most common.
Once the funds are transferred, the issuer can no longer cash the money order. The state becomes the custodian, and it holds the money for the rightful owner. Most states hold escheated funds indefinitely, so the money is not lost, just relocated. Whether you receive interest on top of the original amount depends on the state; some pay accrued interest and may issue a 1099-INT, others return only the principal.
Claiming Escheated Funds
If the funds have already been turned over to the state, you file a claim with that state’s unclaimed property division, not with the issuer. The general steps:
- Search your state’s unclaimed property website, or a national aggregator like MissingMoney.com, using your name and previous addresses.
- If you find a match, submit the state’s online claim form and verify your identity with a government-issued ID.
- Supply supporting documents if the state asks for them: the original receipt, the physical money order, and sometimes a notarized signature on the claim form.
Processing times vary from a few weeks to several months. Claiming your own property from a state treasury is free, so ignore any third-party “finder” that wants a percentage to do it for you.
What to Do With an Old Money Order
If you have a USPS money order that is lost, stolen, damaged, or just very old and you want a replacement, you can start a Money Order Inquiry at any Post Office using PS Form 6401.6USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry The processing fee is $21.00, and you need one form and one fee per money order.7USPS. Notice 123 – Price List Bring the original purchase receipt, which carries the serial number, date, Post Office number, and dollar amount the postal employee needs to trace the money order. Investigations can take up to 60 days, after which USPS issues a replacement if the money order was never cashed.1USPS. Money Orders
Without the receipt, USPS has no easy way to look up the serial number or verify the amount, and the process becomes much slower. Hold onto that receipt until the recipient has cashed the money order.
For MoneyGram or Western Union, replacement procedures are similar in shape but issuer-specific: expect to provide the serial number, the exact purchase amount, and a processing fee. The customer service number is usually printed on the money order itself or on the issuer’s website. Any dormancy fees already deducted from the balance will not be refunded, so a replacement issued years after purchase may be worth less than what you paid.