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Title 31 — Money and FinanceRelease 119-73

§3125 Relief for lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated, or defaced obligations

Title 31 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - PUBLIC DEBT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - ADMINISTRATIVE › § 3125

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Treasury may help when a U.S. government obligation — a direct debt like a bond, note, Treasury bill, or similar certificate — is lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated, or defaced. The obligation must be identified by number and description. If the obligation is payable to bearer (whoever holds it) or was assigned that way and is not clearly shown destroyed, an indemnity bond is required and the Secretary sets its form, amount, and surety. Relief for lost interest coupons is allowed only if the Secretary is satisfied the coupons were not paid and are destroyed or cannot later form a valid claim.

Full Legal Text

Title 31, §3125

Money and Finance — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, “obligation” means a direct obligation of the United States Government issued under law for valuable consideration, including bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness, Treasury bills, and interim certificates issued for an obligation.
(b)The Secretary of the Treasury may provide relief for the loss, theft, destruction, mutilation, or defacement of an obligation identified by number and description.
(c)(1)An indemnity bond is required as a condition of relief if the obligation is payable to bearer or assigned so as to become payable to bearer and is not proven clearly to have been destroyed. The Secretary may prescribe for the indemnity bond the form, amount, and surety or security requirements.
(2)Relief for interest coupons claimed to have been attached to an obligation may be provided only if the Secretary is satisfied that the coupons have not been paid and are destroyed or will not become the basis of a valid claim against the Government.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3125(a)31:738a(d).July 8, 1937, ch. 444, § 8(a)–(d), 50 Stat. 481; Aug. 10, 1939, ch. 665, § 4, 53 Stat. 1359; Nov. 8, 1945, ch. 453, § 153, 59 Stat. 574; restated May 27, 1971, Pub. L. 92–19, 85 Stat. 74. 3125(b)31:738a(a). 3125(c)(1)31:738a(b). 3125(c)(2)31:738a(c). In the section, the word “obligation” is substituted for “security” in the defined term for consistency in the chapter and the revised title and to eliminate using the word “security” in 2 different ways in the same section. In subsection (b), the words “Under such

Regulations

as he may deem necessary for the administration of this section” are omitted as unnecessary because of section 321(b) of the revised title. In subsection (c)(1), the words “whether before, at, or after maturity” and “in effect” are omitted as surplus.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

31 U.S.C. § 3125

Title 31 — Money and Finance

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73