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34 CFR § 681.39 - Death and disability claims.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t34/s681.39"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "34 CFR § 681.39 - Death and disability claims."
title_number: 34
title_name: "Education"
section_number: "681.39"
section_name: "Death and disability claims."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION"
part_number: "681"
part_name: "HEALTH EDUCATION ASSISTANCE LOAN PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Sec. 215, Pub. L. 78-410, 58 Stat. 690, as amended, 63 Stat. 35 (42 U.S.C. 216); secs. 727-739A, Pub. L. 78-410, 90 Stat. 2243, as amended, 93 Stat. 582, 99 Stat. 529-532, 102 Stat. 3122-3125 (42 U.S.C. 294-294-1); renumbered as secs. 701-720, as amended by 106 Stat. 1994-2011 (42 U.S.C. 292-292p); sec. 525, Pub. L. 113-76, Division H, title V, transferred HEAL to the Secretary of Education effective July 1, 2014."
regulatory_source: "82 FR 53378, Nov. 15, 2017, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "681"
---

# 681.39 Death and disability claims.

(a) *Death.* The Secretary will discharge a borrower's liability on the loan in accordance with section 738 of the Act upon the death of the borrower. The holder of the loan may not attempt to collect on the loan from the borrower's estate or any endorser. The holder must secure a certification of death or whatever official proof is conclusive under State law. The holder must return to the sender any payments in accordance with § 685.212(a) received from the estate of the borrower or paid on behalf of the borrower after the date of death.

(b) *Disability.* The Secretary will discharge a borrower's liability on the loan in accordance with 34 CFR 685.213.