The U.S. Department of the Treasury manages savings bonds and treasury securities through TreasuryDirect. When a savings bond owner dies, the bonds may transfer directly to a co-owner or named beneficiary, or be handled through the estate. The process depends on whether someone is named on the bond, whether the estate is court-administered, and whether total treasury securities exceed $100,000.

Death notification

When a savings bond owner dies, how to proceed depends on whether a co-owner or beneficiary is named on the bond. If someone is named, the bond bypasses the estate and transfers directly. If no one is named, the bond becomes part of the estate. For electronic bonds in a TreasuryDirect account, contact TreasuryDirect at 844-284-2676 immediately so a hold can be placed on the account.

Deadline: As soon as possible; contact TreasuryDirect for electronic bonds to place an account hold

Survivor benefits

The Treasury offers 3 benefits for surviving family members.

Direct Transfer to Co-Owner or Beneficiary

If a living co-owner or named beneficiary exists on the bond, the bond transfers directly to that person and does not become part of the estate. The surviving person can cash the bond at a financial institution, let interest accumulate until maturity, or request reissuance in their name alone through TreasuryDirect.

Non-Administered Estate Procedure (Under $100,000)

If no one is named on the bond and the estate is not court-administered, a voluntary representative can cash or distribute bonds using FS Form 5336. Total treasury securities must be $100,000 or less in redemption value as of the date of death. The voluntary representative must be the surviving spouse, blood relative, or legally adopted child.

Amount: Full redemption value of bonds

Court-Administered Estate Procedure

For estates settled through probate court or with treasury securities exceeding $100,000, the court-appointed representative handles the bonds. Use FS Form 1522 to redeem bonds to the estate, FS Form 1455 to distribute to heirs, or FS Form 4000 to reissue bonds to heirs. For closed estates, use FS Form 5394.

When someone dies

Notifying the Treasury after a death

5-step process, 6 required documents, and 3 survivor benefits.

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Frequently asked questions

Not always. If you are a named co-owner or beneficiary, the bond transfers directly to you without probate. If no one is named and total treasury securities are $100,000 or less, you can use the non-administered estate procedure (FS Form 5336) without court involvement.

Processing times vary: approximately 6 weeks for named co-owner/beneficiary transactions, 2 months for estate transactions, and up to 10 months or more for trust-related requests. Wait times may be longer due to volume.

Yes, but you must use FS Form 1851 (Request To Reissue United States Savings Bonds to a Personal Trust). FS Form 5336 cannot be used to distribute bonds to a trust. Trust-related transactions may take 10 months or more to process.

No. Do not sign or endorse savings bonds before submitting them. Send unsigned bonds with the appropriate FS Form. The certifying officer at your financial institution will certify your signature on the form, not on the bond itself.