Fixing misspelled name on savings bond
Wednesday, January 12th, 2005
Categorized as: Savings Bond registration changes
I bought a savings bond for my granddaughter, who is 18 months old. The registration has an "s" at the end of her last name that should not be there. Will she have problems cashing the bond at a later date?
Tom's response
Generally a minor misspelling isn't a problem. The Treasury would prefer that you leave it as is, but if you'd be more comfortable having the spelling fixed, use Public Debt Form 4000.
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I Have Recieved Many Savings Bonds BUt I Realized That When I Recieved A Few Of Them As A Gift They Had My Fathers Last Name As Mine. My Last Name Legally Was Never THe Same As Him. Am I Still Able To Cash Them Even Though I Never Had That Last Name?
Danielle - You just need to convince a bank officer that you are the person named on the bond. It would probably help to take your birth certificate, which should show your father's last name.
Tom Adams
How do I correct a misspelled name on a savings bond that I ordered.
David - I was going to refer you to a page on this web site that deals with this issue, but that's this page.
Click on the form mentioned in the answer at the top of the page, fill it out, have your signature certified on the form by a bank, and send it with the bond to the address in the instructions on the form.
Tom Adams
Should I submit a PDF 4000? We just received about 300 bonds from save keeping and my spouse's first name is mispelled.
Clayton - If it's worrying you or your wife, you should have it fixed.
Tom Adams
I won this contest where the prize was a savings bond. My name is misspelled…There's a D instead of a P in my last name. Would this be an issue?
SN - I don't have an answer for you beyond the text at the top of this page.
Tom Adams
My mother gave me some savings bonds before she passed away. She told me that I was the benefactor of them. However, I am confused. My name was on them below hers but she did not put my middle initial on them. My father who passed away years ago and I share the same first name but different middle names.
Is it legal for me to cash these bonds in? Or how should I handle this.
Mark - So let's say it's really your father's name on the bonds. When he died, your mother became sole owner. When she died, they go into her estate to be distributed according to her will. Who would get the bonds in that case?
If it's still you, it can be far less complicated to believe your mother when she told you it was your name on the bonds and not your father's. If she had no other assets then you can avoid having her will probated. You will need a copy of her death certificate to have the bonds redeemed or reissued in your own name.
Tom Adams