Send Certified Mail online

• Certified Mail records mailing, tracking, delivery, and signature events.
• Electronic Return Receipt provides a downloadable signature record.
• Use it when you need proof of delivery for legal, business, or compliance notices.

When you send Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt, USPS creates a record at each step:

1. Mailing receipt — Proof that the letter entered the USPS system on a specific date.
2. Tracking history — A timestamped log of the letter's journey through USPS facilities.
3. Delivery confirmation — Record that the letter reached its destination.
4. Signature — The name of the person who signed for the letter and the date they signed.

This documentation can be used in court, submitted to agencies, or kept for your own records. The Electronic Return Receipt provides the signature digitally—you don't have to wait for a green card in the mail.

Certified Mail is often used when the law or a contract requires "written notice." Here are common situations (rules vary by jurisdiction):

Landlord-tenant disputes — Many states require landlords to provide written notice before eviction proceedings. Certified Mail creates proof the notice was sent and received.

Debt collection and disputes — If you need to send a written dispute, Certified Mail proves your letter was mailed on time.

Contract termination — If a contract requires written notice to cancel or terminate, Certified Mail proves you gave proper notice.

Demand letters — Before filing a lawsuit, attorneys often send demand letters via Certified Mail. The signature proves the recipient can't claim they never received it.

Government correspondence — Responding to IRS notices, state tax agencies, or regulatory bodies often benefits from Certified Mail proof.

Insurance claims — Some policies require written notice of claims or cancellations. Certified Mail creates a paper trail.

When USPS delivers a Certified Mail letter with Electronic Return Receipt, someone must sign for it. This is different from regular mail, which is simply left in the mailbox.

The signature serves two purposes:

1. It confirms a real person received the letter.
2. It establishes the exact date of delivery.

If no one is available to sign, USPS will leave a notice and hold the letter at the post office for pickup. The holding period varies and is often around 15 days before it's returned to sender.

This is important: if someone refuses to accept Certified Mail, that refusal itself can sometimes be used as evidence that delivery was attempted.

PostalForm offers Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt:

1. Upload your PDF — From your phone or computer.
2. Enter addresses — We validate them before checkout.
3. Select Certified Mail — Electronic Return Receipt is included.
4. Pay and we mail it — We print and send via USPS First Class.

After mailing, you receive your USPS tracking number. Once delivered, you can access the Electronic Return Receipt showing who signed and when.

Certified Mail travels via USPS First Class, which typically takes 3–7 business days after we process and mail the letter. Processing usually happens within 1 business day.

Your tracking number becomes active after the letter enters the USPS system. Delivery confirmation and signature records appear once the recipient signs.

Learn more about delivery times

Not every letter needs proof of delivery. Regular First Class mail is fine for:

• General correspondence
• Documents where delivery isn't contested
• Situations where the recipient confirms receipt another way

Use Certified Mail when you need to prove that something was sent and received—especially when there's money, legal rights, or deadlines involved.

• USPS Certified Mail guide (PostalPro)
• USPS Publication 370: Getting Evidence They Got It
• USPS Electronic Return Receipt FAQ
• USPS First-Class Mail