Questions about savings bonds...?

Question

I have two questions:

My husband has some savings bond. They were given to him by his parents (8 x 1k face value). They only have his name and his mothers name (now deceased) on them. If (God forbid) something happens to him, do they become part of his estate so I am entitled to them?

Second question: I have some bonds that MY parents bought for me. They have my mom's name and my name and SSn on them. Do I need to change to married name? Is SSN enough to identify me. (I am assuming whatever answer above applies to my bonds for my husband also).

Thanks for your help. Please answer only if you know and don't send me to any links, I've looked there and not satisfied with answer.

Answer 1

He can change the beneficiary on them.

You don't need to change to your married name on your bonds because they have your ss# on them. As long as you haven't changed that then you should be good.

And you've looked at every link out there on this subject and found no answers to your questions?

No links for you but here's some other information that you can contact the ones who'd know for sure. I'd have given you a phone number but they didn't supply one.

U.S. Savings Bonds
TreasuryDirect Series EE and I
Bureau of the Public Debt
Division of Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 7015
Parkersburg, WV 26106-7015

Paper Savings Bonds Series EE and I
Bureau of the Public Debt
Division of Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 7012
Parkersburg, WV 26106-7012

Series HH/H
Bureau of the Public Debt
Division of Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 2186
Parkersburg, WV 26106-2186

Answer 2

Yes, if something happened to him, they'd become part of his estate. And you don't have to change your name on the bonds that you have - ssn should be enough to identify you.

If you've had them a long time, be sure to check if they are still drawing interest - it doesn't continue forever.