What Happens When a Bond Holder Dies?

I just came across this useful web site by the US Treasury Department, so I thought I'd pass along the information: US Treasury- Death of a Bond Holder

The important thing that you should know is as follows:

• If only one person is named on a savings bond, and that person is deceased, the bond becomes the property of their estate.
• If both people named on a bond are deceased, the bond is the property of the estate of the person who died last.
• If one of two people named on a bond is deceased, the surviving person is automatically the owner as if that survivor had been the sole owner from the time the bond was issued.

United Kingdom Inheritance Tax Update

The United Kingdom currently imposes an inheritance tax on assets in excess of £300,000 (slightly less than $500,000 based upon today's currency rates) when a person dies. The governing party, the Tories, had vowed to increase that threshold to £1,000,000. However, according to The Telegraph, due to the worldwide financial slowdown and mounting debt, it appears that they will not be able to keep that promise.

Thanks to the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog for bringing this to my attention.