FS Form 5336 is the federal form a family member uses to claim, cash, or hand out the U.S. Treasury securities of a loved one who died, when the estate is small and no court is involved. The person who fills it out is called the voluntary representative, and the form lets that person act for everyone who has a right to share in the estate.
You can use this form only when the total value of the savings bonds and other Treasury securities is $100,000 or less as of the date of death, and only when the estate has not gone through court probate. A single mistake on the certification or the security description can send your whole package back, so getting each box right the first time saves weeks of waiting. The current version is FS Form 5336 (Revised April 2026), and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service estimates it takes about 30 minutes to complete, though gathering your documents takes longer.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 Who counts as a “voluntary representative” and the exact order of precedence that decides if you qualify
- ✍️ How to fill out every Part of the form, line by line, with sample entries you can copy
- 👨👩👧 Three full walk-throughs of real families using the form to cash and split bonds
- 🏦 Why a notary is not always enough and where to get your signature certified the right way
- ⚠️ The top mistakes that get forms rejected and how to avoid each one
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
FS Form 5336 is officially titled “Disposition of Treasury Securities Belonging to a Decedent’s Estate Being Settled Without Administration.” In plain words, it is the form you send to the U.S. Treasury when someone dies owning savings bonds or marketable securities, the family is not opening a court probate case, and the total value sits at or under $100,000. The form does two jobs at once: it lets you apply to act as the voluntary representative, and it requests what should happen to the securities.
The form is required under Title 31 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the rules that govern the public debt of the United States. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service receives and processes it through its agent, Treasury Retail Securities Services in Minneapolis. The regulations decide who may act and in what order, and they set the $100,000 ceiling that separates a non-administered estate from one that must go through court.
You must file this form if all of these are true: no living person is named on the bond as co-owner or beneficiary, the estate has not been and will not be settled through a court or under a small-estate state law, and the total Treasury holdings are $100,000 or less. If a living co-owner or beneficiary is named on a bond, that bond never enters the estate, and this form does not apply. If the value is over $100,000, Treasury rules force a court-administered estate, and you would use a different form such as FS Form 1455 instead.
Only a blood relative, a legally adopted child, or a surviving spouse may file. This limit holds even for a person acting under a power of attorney, which surprises many families. A friend, a stepchild who was never adopted, an in-law, or a paid executor cannot act as voluntary representative on this form.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open the form. Treasury will not return original documents, and a missing item is the most common reason a package stalls. Build a folder with each piece below so you can describe every security and prove every death named on the bonds.
- Certified copies of the death certificate for every deceased person named on any security. Treasury cross-checks these against the registration, and a missing certificate stops the whole transaction.
- The decedent’s full legal name and Social Security Number. These must match the bond registration; a mismatch triggers a manual review and delay.
- The state, district, or territory of the decedent’s last legal residence. This decides whose state law governs how you must distribute the money.
- The actual paper savings bonds, left unsigned. Treasury cannot process bonds it does not hold, and a signed bond can cause a rejection.
- The title, series, issue date, face amount, and serial number of each security. You copy these onto the form to describe each item, and a wrong serial number can misroute payment.
- Your own Social Security Number and current mailing address. Treasury reports interest to the IRS under your number when you take payment.
- Your bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit, since savings-bond payments are paid electronically, not by check.
- The names, Social Security Numbers, and addresses of every distributee if you plan to hand bonds to other heirs rather than cash them.
- A list of who is entitled under your state’s law, because you certify on the form that you will distribute correctly.
- A pen with blue or black ink and access to a certifying officer or notary, since you must sign in front of one of them.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The only official source is the TreasuryDirect website. Download the current FS Form 5336 PDF directly from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, where you can also find the matching instruction pages at the back of the file. Avoid third-party “form filler” sites, because they may post an outdated revision, and using an old version can cause a rejection.
You can type your answers into the fillable PDF on your computer or print it and write by hand. Either way, you must print in ink or type all information; pencil entries and stamped signatures are not accepted. If you fill it on screen, print the finished form before you sign, because the signature and certification must be done on paper in front of a certifying officer or notary.
Confirm you have the right version by checking the revision date printed at the top: it should read “Revised April 2026.” TreasuryDirect updates forms without much notice, so download a fresh copy on the day you start rather than reusing one saved months ago. The form carries OMB control number 1530-0055, which tells you it is the official, government-approved collection.
You cannot file this form online, by fax, or in person at a Treasury office. It is a mail-only form, and you send the signed paper original together with the bonds and death certificates. Keep a full photocopy of everything before you mail it, since Treasury will not return what you send.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out FS Form 5336 Line by Line
Work through the form in order, Part A through Part G. Some Parts you skip depending on whether you are cashing, transferring, or distributing the securities. Read each Part heading carefully, because the form tells you which Part to jump to next.
Part A – Estate Information
This Part asks who died and where they lived. You give the decedent’s name, their Social Security Number, and the state, district, or territory of their last legal residence. If more than one person was named on the securities, you name the person who died last.
To answer it, print the name exactly as it reads on the bond registration, then the nine-digit Social Security Number, then the state. Robert J. Carlson writes his late father’s name as James A. Carlson, the Social Security Number as 123-45-6789, and the residence as Ohio. By signing here, you also certify that no court representative has been or will be appointed and that the estate will not be settled under a small-estate state law.
A common edge case: the decedent moved late in life. Use the state where they were a legal resident at the date of death, not where they were born or where the bonds were bought, because that state’s law controls distribution.
The most common mistake here is naming the first owner who died when two people were on the bond; you must name the one who died last. Get this wrong and Treasury cannot match the death certificates, which halts processing.
A frequent misconception is that you can use this form if the estate went through a quick “small estate” filing. You cannot. If the estate was settled under Summary Administration, a Small Estates Act, a Texas Muniment of Title, or a Louisiana Judgment of Possession, this form does not apply.
Part B – Person Qualified to Act as Voluntary Representative
This Part asks whether you are legally allowed to act, using a strict ranking called the Order of Precedence. You read the list from the top and mark the first box that fits you. The ranking runs: surviving spouse first; then a child if there is no competent surviving spouse; then a grandchild of a deceased child; then a parent; then a brother or sister; then a niece or nephew of a deceased sibling; and finally next of kin under state law.
To answer it, mark only one box, the highest one that applies to you. If you mark the last box, you must write your exact relationship to the decedent on the line provided. Maria Delgado, the decedent’s daughter, marks “I am a child of the decedent and there is no competent surviving spouse” because her mother had already passed.
A key edge case is the power of attorney. Even if you legally hold power of attorney for the family, you still must be a blood relative, adopted child, or spouse yourself; an attorney-in-fact who is unrelated cannot use this form. The same is true for a stepchild who was never legally adopted.
The most common mistake is a lower-ranked relative filing while a higher-ranked, competent relative is still living, such as a son filing while the surviving spouse is alive and able. Treasury will reject the form because only the higher-ranked person may act.
People often believe the oldest child or the named executor automatically qualifies. That is false. The Order of Precedence, not age or a will, decides who may sign.
Part C – Type of Disposition
This Part asks what you want Treasury to do with the securities. You mark one or more of three boxes: payment to yourself as voluntary representative; transfer of unmatured marketable securities to a broker account in your name; or distribution of the securities to the people entitled. The form then directs you to the matching Part.
To answer it, check the box that matches your plan. If you check “payment to myself,” you continue to Part D. If you check “transfer of unmatured marketable securities,” you skip to Part E. If you check “distribution to persons entitled,” you skip to Part F, and you may not check the other two boxes. Robert Carlson checks the first box because he plans to cash his father’s EE bonds and split the cash among his siblings himself.
An important edge case: you can combine payment and transfer if the estate holds both savings bonds and unmatured marketable securities. In that case you check the first two boxes and complete both Part D and Part E. The distribution box, though, stands alone and cannot be mixed with the other two.
The most common mistake is checking the distribution box and the payment box together. The form forbids this, and doing so guarantees a rejection.
A frequent misconception is that “distribution” means you keep the bonds. It does not; distribution sends bonds or proceeds to the named heirs, while “payment to myself” routes the cash to you to share out.
Part D – Payment to Voluntary Representative
This Part is where you ask Treasury to pay the savings bonds or matured marketable securities to you, so you can share the money with the heirs. You give your name, Social Security Number, mailing address, and email, then describe each security, then provide your bank details for direct deposit.
To answer Item 1, print your full legal name, your nine-digit Social Security Number, and your current mailing address. In Item 2, you describe each security in a five-column table: Title of Security, Issue Date, Face Amount, Identifying Number, and Registration. Robert Carlson writes SERIES EE under Title, 7/99 under Issue Date, $100 under Face Amount, the serial number C-123,456,789-EE under Identifying Number, and JAMES A. CARLSON under Registration.
Item 3 is your bank information for direct deposit, because Treasury pays savings bonds and matured electronic securities electronically, never by check. You give the account holder name, the nine-digit routing number (which must start with 0, 1, 2, or 3), the account type, the account number, and your bank’s name and phone number. Paper marketable securities are the one exception that pays by check.
A useful edge case: if you are unsure how to describe a security, the form says to put all the identifying information you have in the Registration column. If you run out of room for many bonds, attach a plain sheet or FS Form 3500.
The most common mistake is a wrong routing or account number, which bounces your direct deposit and forces Treasury to re-contact you. Always confirm the routing number with your bank.
A common misconception is that taking payment as voluntary representative makes you the owner of the money. It does not; you are holding it in trust and must distribute it under your state’s law, and the form makes you personally liable if you do not.
Part E – Transfer to Voluntary Representative
This Part applies only when the estate holds unmatured marketable securities, such as Treasury notes or bonds that have not yet reached maturity. You ask Treasury to transfer those securities into a brokerage or financial-institution account in your name, so they can be sold for the heirs. You give your name, Social Security Number, and address, then the account numbers, then your bank’s wire instructions.
To answer it, complete Item 1 with your identifying details and Item 2 with the Legacy Treasury Direct or TreasuryDirect account number holding the securities. Item 3 is the external wire transfer information: the routing number, the financial institution wire name, the agent or broker name, phone, and address, plus special handling instructions. Susan Patel enters her broker’s routing number, the wire name ABC/CUST/BRKG, and the special handling note FURTHER CREDIT TO SUSAN PATEL BROKERAGE ACCOUNT NUMBER 558742.
An important edge case: securities cannot move into a checking or savings account, because those accounts hold only money, not book-entry securities. You must transfer to a brokerage account set up to receive them, and all scheduled reinvestments are cancelled at transfer.
The most common mistake is altering or correcting an entry in this Part. Treasury will not accept transfer requests with any alterations or corrections, so start over on a clean form rather than crossing out.
A frequent misconception is that you can wire the securities straight to your own bank’s savings account. You cannot; you need book-entry delivery instructions from a brokerage, which the form calls the “wire name.”
Part F – Distribution of Securities to Persons Entitled
This Part is for handing securities or proceeds directly to the heirs rather than cashing everything yourself. You complete a separate Part F block for each distributee, naming only one person per block, with that person’s name, Social Security Number, address, and phone, followed by the exact securities they will receive.
To answer it, in Item 1 enter one distributee’s full details, and in Item 2 describe only the securities going to that person, using the same five-column format as Part D. Maria Delgado lists her brother Carlos Delgado in the first block and assigns him one SERIES I bond worth $5,000. Each distributee must also submit their own form: FS Form 1522 if they want cash, FS Form 4000 if they want to keep an EE or I bond, or FS Form 1851 if reissuing to a trust.
A critical edge case: a savings bond cannot be split. Each EE, E, I, HH, or H bond must go in full to one person. Marketable securities, by contrast, can be split in increments of $100, and an electronic savings bond must be at least $25.
The most common mistake is listing two heirs in one Part F block. The form requires one distributee per block, and combining them forces Treasury to return the form.
A common misconception is that you can split a single $1,000 bond between two children. You cannot; you must either give the whole bond to one child or cash it and divide the money.
Part G – Signature and Certification
This Part is where you sign under penalty of perjury and have your signature certified. You must sign in ink, in the presence of a certifying officer or, only if your transaction involves paper savings bonds alone, a notary. The certifying official then completes the certification block with the date, place, their signature and title, and their seal or stamp.
To answer it, do not sign until you are face to face with the official. Then print your name, Social Security Number, full mailing address, daytime phone, and email below your signature. The official writes the name of each person who appeared, the day, month, and year, the city and state, and affixes the seal. Robert Carlson takes his unsigned form to his credit union, signs in front of the certifying officer, and the officer applies the bank’s signature-guarantee stamp.
The crucial edge case is the certification level. A notary may certify only when the transaction is paper savings bonds alone. If the estate includes any marketable securities or electronic holdings, you need a certifying officer with a financial institution’s official seal or a Medallion Signature Guarantee, not a notary.
The most common mistake is signing the form at home before reaching the official, which voids the certification and forces you to start over. Always wait to sign.
A widespread misconception is that any notary stamp works for any Treasury transaction. It does not; for anything beyond paper savings bonds, a notary’s seal is not accepted, and only a bank’s certifying officer or a Medallion program can validate your signature.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three families using FS Form 5336 from start to finish. Each table shows what the voluntary representative writes in the major sections.
Scenario 1: Surviving spouse cashing a few EE bonds. Eleanor Briggs lost her husband, Frank Briggs, who owned three paper Series EE bonds worth $1,500 total. There is no living co-owner, no court probate, and she wants the cash.
| Form Section | What Eleanor Enters |
|---|---|
| Part A – Decedent name | Frank Briggs |
| Part A – Social Security Number | 222-33-4444 |
| Part A – Legal residence | Florida |
| Part B – Eligibility box | “I am the surviving spouse” |
| Part C – Disposition | Checks “Payment to myself as voluntary representative” |
| Part D – Pay to | Eleanor Briggs, SSN 555-66-7777 |
| Part D – Security described | SERIES EE, 5/01, $500, Serial C-987,654,321-EE, FRANK BRIGGS |
| Part D – Direct deposit | Routing 063100277, checking account 44417788 |
| Part G – Signature | Signs in ink before a notary (paper bonds only) |
Scenario 2: Adult child distributing bonds among siblings. Maria Delgado is the daughter of Rosa Delgado, who had no surviving spouse. Rosa left two Series I bonds, and Maria wants to give one to her brother Carlos and keep the other for herself.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Part A – Decedent name | Rosa Delgado |
| Part A – Legal residence | Texas |
| Part B – Eligibility box | “I am a child of the decedent and there is no competent surviving spouse” |
| Part C – Disposition | Checks “Distribution of securities to the persons entitled” |
| Part F – First distributee | Carlos Delgado, SSN 111-22-3333 |
| Part F – Security to Carlos | SERIES I, 1/02, $5,000, Confirmation IAAAA |
| Part F – Second distributee | Maria Delgado, SSN 444-55-6666 |
| Part F – Security to Maria | SERIES I, 1/02, $5,000 |
| Companion forms | Each sibling files FS Form 4000 to keep the bond |
| Part G – Signature | Signs before a certifying officer at her bank |
Scenario 3: Sibling transferring unmatured marketable securities to a brokerage. Susan Patel is the sister of David Patel, who had no spouse, children, or living parents. David held $20,000 in unmatured Treasury notes in a TreasuryDirect account, and Susan wants them moved to her brokerage to sell.
| Form Section | What Susan Enters |
|---|---|
| Part A – Decedent name | David Patel |
| Part A – Legal residence | California |
| Part B – Eligibility box | “I am a brother or sister of the decedent and there are none of the above” |
| Part C – Disposition | Checks “Transfer of unmatured marketable securities” |
| Part E – Transfer to | Susan Patel, SSN 777-88-9999 |
| Part E – Account number | TreasuryDirect A-123-456-789 |
| Part E – Wire name | ABC/CUST/BRKG |
| Part E – Special handling | FURTHER CREDIT TO SUSAN PATEL BROKERAGE ACCOUNT 558742 |
| Part G – Signature | Signs before a certifying officer with a Medallion stamp |
How to File the Completed Form
FS Form 5336 is mail-only. There is no online portal, fax line, or walk-in counter for this form. You mail the signed paper original, never a copy, together with the unsigned bonds, the certified death certificates, and any companion forms from distributees.
Send the package to the Bureau’s agent: Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150. Mail the form without its instruction pages, and include all securities and related checks belonging to the estate in this one transaction. There is no filing fee for this form, so the only cost is your postage.
Because Treasury cannot return what you send, use a trackable, insured mail service such as USPS Certified Mail or a courier with delivery confirmation. Keep the tracking receipt and a full photocopy of every page and every bond as your proof of filing. The non-administered estates page confirms that incomplete or inaccurate submissions delay processing, so double-check the package before sealing it.
Use only one form and describe all the securities on it, even if the estate holds many different items. Splitting the request across two forms or two envelopes can cause Treasury to process them separately and slow everything down. If electronic savings bonds are involved through a TreasuryDirect account, contact Treasury first so they can place a hold and tell you the next step.
What Happens After You File
After Treasury Retail Securities Services receives your package, a reviewer checks that you qualify under the Order of Precedence, that the death certificates match the registrations, and that the value stays at or under $100,000. If everything matches, they process the disposition you requested. Processing times vary and can run several weeks, especially during heavy seasons.
If you asked for payment, Treasury sends the savings-bond proceeds to your bank by direct deposit, and any paper marketable-security proceeds by check. If you asked for distribution, the heirs receive electronic EE or I bonds in their own TreasuryDirect accounts, paper HH bonds by mail, or cash, depending on the companion form each filed. Any interest that becomes due is paid to whoever receives the security unless you request otherwise.
Treasury reports the interest earned to the IRS under the Social Security Number of whoever receives payment, so expect a Form 1099-INT for tax purposes. The form’s notice points filers to IRS Publication 550 for guidance on reporting savings-bond interest. You remain personally bound to distribute the money correctly under your state’s law, and you have signed an agreement to repay the United States if any loss results from your request.
The Commissioner of the Fiscal Service can ask for more evidence or even require formal court administration in any case. If the reviewer needs more, they will write to you with instructions. Respond quickly, because the case stays open and unpaid until you supply what they ask for.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each error below has stopped real filings. Read them before you mail.
- Signing the form before you reach the certifying official. The certification is void, and Treasury returns the form.
- Using a notary when marketable or electronic securities are involved. A notary may certify paper savings bonds only, so the package gets rejected.
- Naming the wrong decedent in Part A. If two owners died, you must name the one who died last, or the death certificates will not match.
- A lower-ranked relative filing while a higher-ranked one is alive. The Order of Precedence is strict, and the form will bounce.
- Checking the distribution box together with a payment box. The form forbids mixing distribution with the other two options.
- Trying to split a single savings bond between two heirs. Bonds cannot be split, so the request fails.
- Leaving the bonds signed when you mail them. Bonds must be sent unsigned, and a signature can cause a rejection.
- Sending originals of documents you want back. Treasury never returns what you send, so submit copies of anything you need to keep.
- A wrong bank routing or account number in Part D. The direct deposit bounces and processing stops.
- Crossing out or correcting entries in Part E. Transfer requests with alterations are not accepted at all.
- Using this form when the estate value is over $100,000. Treasury rules require court administration above that line.
- Forgetting a death certificate for one named owner. Every deceased registrant needs a certified copy attached.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do read the Order of Precedence from the top and mark only the first box that fits, because that is who Treasury recognizes.
- Do wait to sign until you stand before a certifying officer, since signing early voids the form.
- Do describe every security in full, copying the serial number exactly, so Treasury can match each item.
- Do send copies of death certificates and keep the originals, because nothing you mail comes back.
- Do mail the package with tracking, so you have proof if it is lost.
- Do download a fresh copy of the current April 2026 revision the day you start.
Don’t:
- Don’t sign the bonds, because they must arrive unsigned.
- Don’t use this form if a court representative was appointed or the estate was settled under state small-estate law.
- Don’t combine two heirs in one Part F block, since each distributee needs a separate block.
- Don’t rely on a notary if any marketable or electronic security is included.
- Don’t split the request across two forms, because all securities go on one form.
- Don’t use this form to pay or distribute to a trust, which is not allowed.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many families complete FS Form 5336 without a lawyer, while others hire help. Weigh the trade-offs below.
Pros of filing on your own:
- No legal fees, since you only pay for postage and certification.
- Faster start, because you control the timing instead of waiting on an attorney.
- Full control over how the securities are cashed or split.
- Privacy, since you keep family and financial details within the family.
- A learning benefit, because you understand the estate’s holdings firsthand.
Cons of filing on your own:
- Risk of rejection if you misread the strict Order of Precedence or certification rules.
- Personal liability, because you sign a hold-harmless agreement to repay Treasury for any loss.
- State-law uncertainty, since you must know who is entitled under your state’s intestacy rules.
- Time and stress while grieving, as you chase certificates and certifications.
- No professional check on whether the $100,000 ceiling or trust rules disqualify you.
FAQs
Can I use FS Form 5336 if the estate is worth more than $100,000?
No. If the decedent’s Treasury securities and related payments exceed $100,000 in redemption or par value as of the date of death, Treasury rules require court administration, and you must use a different form.
Do I have to send the original savings bonds?
Yes. You must mail the actual paper bonds, but leave them unsigned, because Treasury needs to hold the bonds to process the disposition.
Can a notary certify my signature on this form?
No. A notary may certify only when the transaction involves paper savings bonds alone; anything else needs a certifying officer or Medallion Signature Guarantee.
Do I write the decedent’s name or my own name in Part A?
No, not your own. Part A asks for the decedent’s name, and if two owners died, you name the person who died last.
Can I split one savings bond between two heirs in Part F?
No. A savings bond cannot be split; each bond must go in full to one entitled person, or be cashed and the money divided.
Do I mark more than one box in Part B?
No. You mark only one box in the Order of Precedence, the highest-ranked one that applies to you.
Can I use this form to put bonds into a trust?
No. The form expressly cannot be used to distribute bonds to a trust or to make payment to a trust.
Will I get paid by check for savings bonds?
No. Payment for savings bonds, paper or electronic, is made by direct deposit, so you must provide bank account details in Part D.
Can a friend or unrelated power of attorney file this form?
No. Only a blood relative, legally adopted child, or surviving spouse may file, even if someone holds power of attorney.
Do I sign the form before going to the bank?
No. You must sign in ink in the presence of the certifying officer or notary, never beforehand, or the certification is invalid.
Can I send the form by fax or file it online?
No. FS Form 5336 is mail-only and goes to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150.
Is there a filing fee for FS Form 5336?
No. Treasury charges no fee to file this form; your only costs are postage and any charge your bank sets for certification.
Can I combine cashing some bonds and distributing others?
Yes, but read carefully: you may combine payment and transfer, yet the distribution box cannot be checked alongside the payment or transfer boxes.
Do I need a death certificate for every owner named on the bonds?
Yes. You must submit a certified copy of the death certificate for every deceased person named on any security in the estate.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Treasury Form FS-1522 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Treasury Form FS-5336 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Alaska Small Estate Affidavit (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Delaware Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the U.S. Treasury FS Form 1455 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the U.S. Treasury FS Form 1851 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Arkansas Petition for Probate of Will (w/Examples) + FAQs