Ask Kim
Tracking Down Lost Savings Bonds
I lost track of a couple of savings bonds, how can I get them reissued?
By Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
January 10, 2003
I have a couple of savings bonds that had my Grandpa's name and my name on them. He passed away, and I can't find the bonds. How do I go about getting them or seeing if they've been cashed?
The Bureau of the Public Debt will help you search for the bonds. Fill out a claim form for Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Savings Bonds, which asks for the names, addresses and social security numbers of the bond owners, approximate issue dates, and the serial numbers if you know them. Get the form certified and send it to the Bureau of the Public Debt. Since your grandfather has passed away, you'll also need to send a certified copy of the death certificate.
After the bureau verifies that the bonds haven't been cashed, it will send you replacements.
For more information about the process, go to the Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Bonds page of the Bureau of the Public Debt's Web site. Also see What to Do When a Bond Owner Has Died.
