Quote Originally Posted by frugal-one View Post
The problem I see with I Bonds is that if you die they will be part of probate. I cashed in some this year because I am not sure if others would understand how to cash them in and what the tax ramifications would be. I am trying to make everything easy for heirs.
If I die before some sort of financial shock comes along which causes me to cash in I Bonds, they are registered as POD, payable to my spouse on my death. I believe the I Bonds would not be involved in probate, if my wife survives me.

If I wanted to register somebody other than my spouse as POD, I would talk to a lawyer familiar with marital property rights (I live in a community-property state), about obtaining her consent. I do not expect that I will want to do this.

If I survive my spouse, I believe it would be possible to change the POD registration to other individuals.