File No. 33-23093
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-1004
POST-EFFECTIVE
AMENDMENT NO. 12
TO
FORM S-6
For Registration Under the Securities Act of 1933 of Securities
of Unit Investment Trusts Registered on Form N-8B-2
THE FIRST TRUST COMBINED SERIES 56
(Exact Name of Trust)
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.
(Exact Name of Depositor)
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois 60532
(Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices)
NIKE SECURITIES L.P. CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
Attn: James A. Bowen Attn: Eric F. Fess
1001 Warrenville Road 111 West Monroe Street
Lisle, Illinois 60532 Chicago, Illinois 60603
(Name and complete address of agents for service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check
appropriate box)
:____: immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
:__X_: July 31, 2000
:____: 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
:____: on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule (485 or
486)
CONTENTS OF POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
This Post-Effective Amendment of Registration Statement
comprises the following papers and documents:
The facing sheet
The purpose of the Amendment
The signatures
The Consent of Independent Auditors
Financial Data Schedule
THE PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENT
The purpose of this amendment is to terminate the
declaration made pursuant to Rule 24f-2 promulgated under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, because Units of The
First Trust Combined Series 56 are no longer being offered for
sale in the secondary market. A final Rule 24f-2 Notice with
respect to such series has been filed concurrently with this
filing.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the Registrant, The First Trust Combined Series 56, certifies
that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this
Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective
Amendment of its Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized in the
Village of Lisle and State of Illinois on July 31, 2000.
THE FIRST TRUST COMBINED SERIES 56
(Registrant)
By NIKE SECURITIES L.P.
(Depositor)
By Robert M. Porcellino
Vice President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Post-Effective Amendment of Registration Statement has been
signed below by the following person in the capacity and on the
date indicated:
Signature Title* Date
David J. Allen Sole Director of )
Nike Securities )
Corporation, the )
General Partner ) July 31, 2000
of Nike Securities L.P. )
)
)
)Robert M. Porcellino
)Attorney-in-Fact**
* The title of the person named herein represents his capacity
in and relationship to Nike Securities L.P., the Depositor.
** An executed copy of the related power of attorney was filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
with Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 of The First Trust Combined
Series 258 (File No. 33-63483) and the same is hereby
incorporated herein by this reference.
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Experts" and to the use of our report dated July 9, 2000 in this
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement and
related Prospectus of The First Trust Combined Series dated July
26, 2000.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
July 25, 2000
