How to Replace Or Re-issue a US Savings Bond

If your savings bond has been lost, stolen or mutilated, fret not, it can be replaced. You can also have a savings bond reissued if you want to change it's registration information.

Things You'll Need

• As much of the bond information as possible.

Instructions

1. **WHEN SHOULD YOU HAVE A SAVINGS BOND REPLACED?**

   If your bond was ...

   1. lost
   2. stolen
   3. damaged
   4. destroyed
   5. not received within 15 days of original order

   Fill out form PDF 1048 E (I provided a link to this form below)
   Mail the completed form to:

   Bureau of the Public Debt
   P.O. Box 7012
   Parkersburg, WV 26106-7012

   Once you have a bond replaced, if the original is found it must be returned to the above address as it is now property of the U.S. Government. You will not be able to successfully redeem the original bond once a replacement is issued as it will show the original issue date which will no longer be valid.

2. **WHEN SHOULD YOU HAVE A SAVINGS BOND RE-ISSUED?**

   If you need to ...

   1. change beneficiaries
   2. sole owner wants to add a co-owner
   3. remove a living beneficiary (can only be done by the owner)
   4. remove a deceased beneficiary (can only be done by a surviving owner)
   5. change the name of a beneficiary, owner or co-owner due to marriage, divorce, annulment or court order
   6. correct an error in registration
   7. remove the name of an owner with or without a co-owner and place in the name of a new owner

   In any of these events fill out form PDF 4000 (I have provided a link below in my resources). Be sure to follow the instructions on the form carefully. Return the completed form to:

   Bureau of the Public Debt
   P.O. Box 7012
   Parkersburg, WV 26106-7012

   If the sole owner or both co-owners of the bond want to re-issue the bond in the name of a trustee use Form PDF 1851 (I have also provided a link to this form in the resources below). Again follow the directions on the form carefully. Return the completed form to:

   Bureau of the Public Debt
   P.O. Box 7012
   Parkersburg, WV 26106-7012

3. **WHAT TO DO IF THE SAVINGS BOND OWNER OR OWNERS ARE DECEASED**

   If the bond owner or owners have died the bond becomes property of their estate. If both bond owners are deceased the bond becomes property of the estate of the person who died last.

   IF A SURVIVING PERSON IS NAMED ON THE BOND:

   If you are named in a bond's registration with someone else who is now deceased, you can:

   1. Do nothing with the bond;
   Redeem the bond by presenting it with adequate identification at a financial institution that pays savings bonds; or,
   2. Get the bond reissued (re-registered) in your name alone or with some other living person as long as the bond is still earning interest and is not approaching final maturity.

   IF THERE IS NO SURVIVOR NAMED ON THE BOND:

   When there is no court involvement, if a decedent's estate:

   1. Has not been and will not be formally administered through a court.
   2. Has not been and will not be settled under special provisions of state law relating to small estates.
   3. Contains bonds totaling $100,000 or less (current redemption value).

   The persons entitled to request disposition of the bonds should fill out a PDF 5336 (I have provided a link to this form also). If the estate contains bonds totaling $100,000 or more (current redemption value), the estate must be administered. Again return completed form to:

   Bureau of the Public Debt
   PO Box 7012
   Parkersburg, WV 26106-7012

4. **WHO TO CONTACT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS**

   You can email the Bureau of Public Debt with questions related to savings bonds at:
   [e-mail]

   You can also call them at:
   [phone]

   Or fax them:
   [phone]

Resources

• PDF Form 1048
• PDF Form 4000
• PDF Form 1851
• PDF Form 5336
• MooreMoneyMatters - My Blog