Changing a co-owner or beneficary who has died
Friday, July 23rd, 2004
Categorized as: Savings Bond registration changes
I have E and EE bonds. My spouse, who has died, is listed as co-owner on some and as beneficiary on others. I would like to change this registration to another person. Do I have to provide a death certificate?
Tom's response
In general, the process for removing a co-owner or beneficiary who has died from a Savings Bond registration, and adding a new name if you like, is similar to any other registration change.
My article on adding a co-owner or adding/changing a beneficiary has additional information, including a link to the form you'll need.
However, there are some cases in which you do need to provide a copy of a death certificate.
With the older Series E and H bonds, you can't change a living beneficiary without that person's permission, so you need to provide the death certificate of a deceased beneficary.
Otherwise, a copy of the death certificate isn't strictly required, but if you have one it could facilitate things to include it when you send in the form.
(Average rating: 2.33 stars)
Loading ...
I also have bonds with my father's name on it who died 2/2004. Is there a form I have to fill out with a copy of his death certificate? Is there a form that I put co-beneficiaries on incase I die? I want them in the family. There's no one to sit down with so who can give me the steps to follow?
Hi Laurie - the person to sit down with is the lawyer who handled your father's estate. There are different forms depending on how the estate was handled.
If your lawyer doesn't know what to do, you can suggest that the firm order a copy of my book, Savings Bond Advisor, which will tell them what they need to know to help you.
Tom Adams
We do not have a lawyer. When my father died, my mother is the co-beneficiary, so everything went to her. My brother became the "Power of Attorney" when situations came up (ex: my father's car was going to become mine, so my brother went through the steps of how to change the name from my father's into mine, etc). We did not deal with a lawyer.
Laurie - Your mother can have the registration changed on the Savings Bonds that have only your father's name on them. That's because she's the heir. The form for this is here:
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/forms/sav5336.pdf
Tom Adams
i have several bonds i bought long ago and i have some with my fathers name on them and some with my mothers name on them and some with with now x-wifes name on them in addition to my name. i do not know if they are beneficeres or co-owners. how do i know if they are beneficiaries or co/oweners. my intentions were that they would be beneficieries but since i have been divorced for over 15 years and my mother and father are deceased i need to know what to do to take their names off the bonds. i am contemplating cashing the bonds in the near future since i am unemployed and have been for a long time. i would appreciate your help on what to do. thank you.
Hi Lamar - The person whose name is listed first on a bond is considered the "principal owner". If there is a second name, look at what's in between the names.
If POD (payable on death to) is between the names, the second-named person is a beneficiary and has no rights to the bond unless you die.
If OR appears, the second-named person is a co-owner with you and can legally cash the bond without your knowledge or permission.
If you decide to change the co-owner or beneficiary, the information you need is on this page. If you decide to cash the bonds, see how to redeem a savings bond.
Tom Adams
I found a pile of savings bonds in an old safe-deposit box. They are in the names of my mother's deceased husband and his brother, whom I think is also deceased. What can I do with the bonds?
Lynette - "I think is also deceased" won't get you anywhere.
If you can come up with death certificates for the co-owners, if your mother's husband died last, if these bonds weren't claimed as lost somewhere along the line and replaced, and if your mother's husband didn't have a will leaving the bonds to someone else, the bonds would belong to your mother.
So you'll have to do a lot of legwork to get the money for your mother, but if it's truly a "pile" it would be time well spent.
Tom Adams