What is in care of in mailing address
In a mailing address, "In Care Of" (also abbreviated as "c/o" or "C/O") is a notation that indicates that the mail should be delivered to a specific person or entity at a particular address, but not necessarily to the actual occupant of that address.
In other words, "In Care Of" is a way to specify a person or organization that is responsible for receiving and forwarding mail to the intended recipient. This is often used when the recipient is not the primary occupant of the address, or when the recipient is not known to the postal service.
Here are some common scenarios where "In Care Of" is used:
- Forwarding mail: When someone moves to a new address, they may use "In Care Of" to specify a friend or family member who can receive their mail until they settle into their new home.
- Business or organization: A company or organization may use "In Care Of" to specify a specific department or person who should receive mail addressed to the organization.
- Landlord or property manager: When renting a property, the landlord or property manager may be listed as the "In Care Of" contact for the tenant.
- Package delivery: Online retailers or delivery services may use "In Care Of" to specify a neighbor or local business that can receive packages on behalf of the recipient.
- Special circumstances: In some cases, "In Care Of" may be used to specify a person or organization that is responsible for receiving mail for someone who is away from home, such as a student or traveler.
The format for using "In Care Of" in a mailing address is typically as follows:
[Name] c/o [Name of person or organization] [Street address] [City, State, ZIP]
For example:
John Doe c/o Jane Smith 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345
In this example, mail addressed to John Doe would be delivered to Jane Smith at the specified address, who would then forward it to John Doe.