mail postal-service
Is mailing from a fake address legal?
<p>I know it is legal to send mail without a return address, but is it legal to mail with someone else's address? When I went to the post office the label machine did not have an option for &quot;No Return Address&quot;. The problem is that I don't have a legal address to put down (and no I don't have friends or family to ask to borrow their address).</p>
<p>So how can I send mail without a legal address?</p>

<p>I'm going to assume you mean in the United States...</p>
<p>Mailing a letter does not always require a return address as you understand from your question.</p>
<p>A return address must appear legibly on:</p>
<ul>
<li>Mail of any class bearing a printed ancillary service request (i.e. &quot;Return Service&quot;)</li>
<li>Official mail</li>
<li>Mail paid with precanceled stamps</li>
<li>Matter bearing a company permit imprint</li>
<li>Priority mail</li>
<li>Periodicals in envelopes or opaque wrappers</li>
<li>USPS retail ground</li>
<li>Package services</li>
<li>Parcel Select</li>
<li>Registered Mail</li>
<li>Insured Mail</li>
<li>Collect on Delivery (COD) Mail</li>
<li>Certified Mail (if a return receipt is requested)</li>
<li>Priority Mail Express</li>
<li>Detached Address Labels and detached marketing labels</li>
<li>Adult signature required</li>
</ul>
<p>Given that if your mail was not any of the above, you could make up an address <em>and then make it illegible</em> so that it cannot be read (using a pen or marker, or white-out to obscure the address). Do not keep a legible address that does not belong to you as the return address.</p>
