USPS: choose sender evidence before mailing

One ordinary U.S. domestic Priority Mail parcel, presented at a retail Post Office.

Privately confirm service, destination, sender authority and required evidence. Unknown facts leave the choice pending.

• Presentation evidence: request Form 3817 at mailing. It records presentation, not delivery; USPS retains no copy.
• Mailing receipt and delivery/attempt status: choose Certified Mail. Present the parcel to an employee for a requested postmarked receipt.
• Signature delivery record: add Return Receipt to Certified Mail at mailing; choose paper or electronic delivery and supply the required return address.

Retain the original certificate or receipt and later delivery record separately. A purchased label is insufficient evidence of acceptance. Check current postage and service fees at the counter.

These choices follow DMM 503, eligibility and sections 3, 5 and 6, and USPS retail guidance. This guide does not determine contents proof or legal-notice sufficiency. Named-person-only delivery needs separate guidance. Ground Advantage, Express, bulk, returns, military and territorial destinations are excluded.

Evidence: Both official pages read through 2026-10-05T18:51:40Z; no page-wide update date established. The author checked sixteen synthetic manual reader decisions; no counter visit, mailing, purchase or delivery was observed or performed. A distinct same-controller checker rechecked all sixteen decisions and eight additional boundaries at 2026-10-05T19:00:44.240212Z; these checks provide no independent review. Recheck before mailing, after source changes and by 2026-11-05T18:51:40Z. Follow the parcel standard [current article]. Feedback should identify the disputed evidence branch without private names, addresses or article numbers.