Court-appointed representatives

Paper savings bonds

This page is about paper savings bonds.

When someone dies, that person's estate (what the person owns) must be "settled" – distributed according to the person's will or the law. Sometimes, a court appoints someone to settle the estate.

On this page:

	Open-Administered Estate	The court appointed a representative to settle the estate and the estate is still open and being settled. Documentation Examples: Letters of Appointment Letter of Testamentary
	Closed-Administered Estate	The court previously appointed a representative, but they have already fulfilled their duties and been discharged. Documentation Examples: Final Account Decree of Distribution
	Small Estate	Settling the estate involves a special provision of state law. Documentation Examples: Small Estate Affidavit Louisiana Judgment of Possession Texas Muniment of Title

Open-Administered Estate

If the court appointed you as the representative to settle an estate, and that estate is still open and being settled. You may:

• Redeem the bonds to the estate, or
• Distribute the bonds to specific heirs

Open-Administered Estate: Redeem the bonds to the estate

A local bank or other financial institution may be willing to cash E, EE, or I savings bonds for a court-appointed representative of an open-administered estate. Banks cannot cash H or HH bonds. Please contact your bank for instructions.

If the bank is unable to cash your bonds, please submit to our office:

1. The FS 1522 form, with your certified signature and title.
   1. Example Signature: Jane Doe, court-appointed representative for John Doe, deceased.
2. The unsigned bonds.
3. A death certificate for each deceased person on the bonds.
4. Court evidence for the proof of your appointment as the representative authorized to cash the bonds. If your powers are limited, please include documentation.

NOTE: We cannot return legal evidence. Send us legible copies with visible stamps or seals.

Address:

Open-Administered Estate: Distribute the bonds to specific heirs

A court-appointed representative of an open-administered estate may distribute specific bonds to specific heirs. Each heir must complete paperwork to redeem and/or reissue their specific bonds.

Please note, an individual savings bond cannot be split between multiple people. The entire amount of a savings bond must go to one owner as directed by the court-appointed representative.

Please submit to our office:

1. By the Court-Appointed Representative:
   1. The FS 1455 form, with your certified signature and title.
   2. Example Signature: Jane Doe, court-appointed representative for John Doe, deceased.
2. From each Heir:
   1. The FS 1522 form for the bonds they wish to redeem.
   2. The FS 4000 form for the non-matured bonds they wish to reissue.
      1. Note: All bonds will be reissued electronically. This option requires the heir to open a TreasuryDirect account.
      2. Note: Matured bonds must be redeemed.
3. The unsigned bonds.
4. A death certificate for each deceased person on the bonds.
5. Court evidence for the proof of your appointment as the representative authorized to cash the bonds. If your powers are limited, please include documentation.

NOTE: We cannot return legal evidence. Send us legible copies with visible stamps or seals.

Address:

Closed-Administered Estate

If the court previously appointed a representative, but that person has already fulfilled their duties and been discharged, follow the instructions provided in the Final Account, Decree of Distribution, or other court document.

Please submit to our office:

1. The FS 5394 form, with a certified signature for each person required.
2. Any additional paperwork requested in the FS 5394 form.
3. The unsigned bonds.
4. A death certificate for each deceased person on the bonds.
5. Final Account, Decree of Distribution, or similar court documentation.

NOTE: We cannot return legal evidence. Send us legible copies with visible stamps or seals.

Address:

Small Estate (special provision of state law)

If the estate was settled involving a special provision of state law relating to small estate, follow the instructions provided in the Small Estate Affidavit or similar document.

Please submit to our office:

1. The FS 5394 form, with a certified signature for each person required.
2. Any additional paperwork requested in the FS 5394 form.
3. The unsigned bonds.
4. A death certificate for each deceased person on the bonds.
5. Small Estate Affidavit, or similar document.

NOTE: We cannot return legal evidence. Send us legible copies with visible stamps or seals.

Address:

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