Guides / What to do with savings bonds after a death
What to do with savings bonds after a death
Treasury Hunt is gone, but lost bonds can still be claimed, and small estates may not need a court.
How to look for bonds
Check safes, safe deposit boxes and old envelopes. Look through old tax returns for bond interest. TreasuryDirect has ended Treasury Hunt, its search for lost bonds. It now points people to its claim forms.
If bonds are lost
Use FS Form 1048 to replace or cash a lost EE or I bond. If you find a paper bond later, tell Treasury Retail Securities Services and return it as directed.
Without a court case
Heirs can cash the bonds without a court-appointed representative if they total $100,000 or less and no named owner is living. A voluntary representative signs FS Form 5336. That person must be at least 18 and a surviving spouse, blood relative, adopted child or next of kin, in a strict order. The page has the details.
With a court case
If there's a court-appointed executor or administrator, that person handles the bonds. TreasuryDirect lists the forms for each situation.
Where this comes from
- TreasuryDirect, Treasury Hunt
- TreasuryDirect, lost EE or I bonds
- TreasuryDirect, estates without probate
Checked November 6, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. See how we check facts or report a mistake.