Replace Lost Savings Bonds, Stock Certificates, Car Titles, and Tax Returns

CNN Money has a potentially useful piece on how to get a copy of important documents if you happen to lose them. Hopefully you won’t ever need this info, but here it is anyway…

Savings Bonds
Visit TreasuryDirect.gov or fill out Form 1048 (Claim for lost, stolen, or destroyed US Savings Bonds).

Old Stock and Bond Certificates

Most stock and corporate bond records are kept at one of three transfer agent firms: ComputerShare (781-575-2000), Wells Fargo Investments (866-243-0931) or American Stock Transfer & Trust (800-937-5449).

It may cost up to 3% of the stock or bond’s value to obtain a replacement.

Auto Titles
Visit your local DMV in person or online. Might cost $20-$30.

Tax Returns
You can actually order a copy of your old tax returns from any of the last 7 years from the IRS.gov for $39. Use Form 4506 (Request for a Copy of Tax Return).

If it’s within the last 3 years, you can also try requesting a “tax return transcript” or “tax account transcript” for free using Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return). It’s basically the same info in a different form, and there is a good chance it’ll be accepted by mortgage brokers or whoever needs it. Oh, and it arrives a lot faster than a photocopy of your actual return.