How to Cash in Stock Certificates
- Sending Them to Your Broker. If you have a stock certificate for a company that's still in business, you can generally...
- Researching a Stock Certificate. If you come across an old stock certificate and are not sure how much it's worth or if...
- Selling Stock Certificates to Collectors. Not all stock certificates still have monetary value.
What do you do with a stock certificate?
May 16, 2012 · You'll need to mail it. Be sure you send the document via insured mail and have tracking information. Also, make sure you enclose a letter requesting the transfer agent to put the certificate into "DRS book entry form." DRS is short for Direct Registration System.
How do I cash unclaimed stock certificates?
May 23, 2019 · How Do I Cash an Old Stock Certificate? Locate the Company. The first step is making sure the company is still in business. If it’s a household name like... Find the CUSIP Number. The secretary of state's office in the state of incorporation must be listed on the stock... Contact the Transfer Agent. ...
How do you sell a stock certificate?
Feb 19, 2019 · How to Cash in Stock Certificates Sending Them to Your Broker. If you have a stock certificate for a company that's still in business, you can generally... Researching a Stock Certificate. If you come across an old stock certificate and are not sure how much it's worth or if... Selling Stock ...
What are the best tips for selling stock certificates?
Feb 23, 2017 · A little over 10 years, I received a large stock inheritance from my father. (I've been waiting to cash it in, but now I'm in bad financial shape and need the money now). What I have is a stack of physical stock certificates. They are for General Motors stock that was issued in 1989. In total, I have 13,500 shares.
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How do I convert stock certificates to cash?
If you can track down the issuing company and get its CUSIP number, you can reach out to a transfer agent, complete a transfer form and place a sell order to cash in your old stock certificate. Otherwise, you could simply keep the certificate if the company no longer exists.May 23, 2019
How do I redeem a stock certificate?
You'll need to contact the transfer agent, via mail or telephone, and ask that the shares are sold. Most transfer agents will do this at no charge and will mail you a check if you request payment that way.
Can you cash in old stock certificates?
Not anyone can cash in a stock certificate. Most stocks are issued to an individual, but they do transfer to heirs. In this case, the transfer agent will tell you that you need to provide a probated will if you inherited the certificate.Mar 26, 2019
How do I find out what my old stock certificates are worth?
Determine the collectible value of your certificate if it no longer has stock value. A stock can have worth based on who signed it, historical interest, or the engraving. This value can be found by contacting dealers, researching libraries, or searching listings on eBay.
What do I do with old stock certificates?
All you need to do is contact the company and ask for its transfer agent. The transfer agent is the person that will help you get registered as the owner of the certificate and collect any uncollected dividends.Oct 16, 2020
Do stock certificates expire?
Stock shares do not have an expiration date.
Who buys old stock certificates?
Scripophily is a term for the hobby of collecting old stock certificates. Companies such as Scripophily.com are eager to help, in hopes that if the certificate is valuable, they can sell it or auction it at a profit.Oct 22, 2013
How do I verify stock ownership?
In the digital age, you can prove stock ownership without holding a physical certificate....A stock certificate must contain several pieces of information:The corporation's name and incorporation date.The name of the investor.The issue date of the stocks.How many shares the investor owns.
Can I sell shares without a certificate?
You will need to be in possession of your share certificate(s) if you want to transfer or sell your shares. If your share certificate becomes lost or stolen, you will need to obtain a replacement by completing a Letter of Indemnity Form.
Can old stock certificates be worth anything?
An old stock or bond certificate may still be valuable even if it no longer trades under the name printed on the certificate. The company may have merged with another company or simply changed its name.
How do I find out if I have shares in my name?
Contact the company you've invested in and ask for the investor relations department. Identify yourself, then inquire when the stock certificate was registered to you, and when it was mailed. The company should have a complete record of this transaction and should have tracked the certificate.
Step By Step Help For Cashing In On Old Stock Certificates
The U.S. government amasses millions of dollars of unclaimed assets every year. Some of those assets are old, uncashed dividends and stocks.
Getting Started With Cashing In Old Stock Certificates
First, you must find out if the issuing company is still active. You can do this by investigating the instrument from home or at your local library.
Researching Old Companies
Ideally, you want to find out as soon as possible if your stocks hold any value. Resultantly, it makes good sense to start doing a little research on your own.
Learning More About Your Certificate Through the State
You can also find out information about your old stock certificate through the state. Contact the Secretary of State Office of the issuing state on the certificate.
Approaching the Finish Line
Now you’ve identified the company and your CUSIP number. You have the information you need to investigate the worth of your old stock certificates.
Sealing the Deal
If you’ve gotten this far, the transfer agent will ask you to complete the transfer form. The transfer form is located on the back of the stock certificate.
Yet Another Way to Cash in on Old Stock Certificates
Sometimes, a stock certificate may look valid, but it holds no worth, or it’s been canceled – as mentioned above. If, in the end, you find out that your stock has no value – don’t give up.
What is transfer agent?
A transfer agent is a firm that handles the administration of the company’s stock and other securities. You can obtain contact information from the company by writing or calling its stockholder services office. The transfer agent will tell you what you need to cash in old stock certificates. For example, if you inherited ...
Where to find a company's CUSIP number?
The secretary of state's office in the state of incorporation must be listed on the stock certificate. This is where you can find the company’s CUSIP number. This is an identification number found on all stock certificates. The secretary of state’s office can tell you if the company went out of business, changed its name or moved out of state.
Where to find ownership transfer form?
The ownership transfer form can be found on the back of the stock certificate. Take the certificate to a notary public, and sign it in the notary’s presence. Send the stock certificate to the transfer agent by certified mail along with any required documentation of your ownership rights.
What to do if you find an old stock certificate?
If the company is still in business, you can look up its transfer agent, often a bank, that handles stock-related matters on its behalf.
Do stock certificates have value?
Not all stock certificates still have monetary value. If you determine an old stock certificate belongs to a long-bankrupt company, for instance, you may not be able to sell the shares it represents.
Who is Steven Melendez?
Steven Melendez is an independent journalist with a background in technology and business. He has written for a variety of business publications including Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, Innovation Leader and Ad Age.
What is a DRS stock?
The Direct Registration System (DRS) allows owners of stock certificates to hold their shares in book entry-form with the transfer agent instead of as a physical stock certificate. Book-entry means that the transfer agent keeps a record of your ownership of the stock in its books.
What is market order?
A market order tells your broker to sell the stock for the next available price. No restrictions can be placed on a market order.
What is a transfer agent?
Usually, the transfer agent is a bank or trust company. Sometimes a very large company, like Walt Disney, acts as its own transfer agent.
The Key Pieces of Information
Start by looking at a few things on the certificate. Look for the company name and location of incorporation, a CUSIP number , and the name of the person with whom the security is registered. All of these items are important and can likely be found on the certificate's face.
Transfer Agent
If you have been successful in finding all this information, you will need to locate the name of the transfer agent. The easiest way is to contact the company and ask it directly.
The Importance of Documentation
If you are inheriting securities, ensure the individual whose name is on the certificate has bequeathed it to you. A probated will with the necessary signatures of the executors may be required by the transfer agent before it will transfer ownership.
Have Someone Else Do the Work for You
For those of you who have gone through all of these steps without any success, there are other means by which you can have your old stock certificates researched, but they will cost you some money.
Where to take stock certificates?
Take the stock certificates and the documents to a financial institution, such as a bank or brokerage firm, that participates in the Medallion Stamp Program. An authorized bank official must witness your signature on the transfer of ownership form and on the stock certificates.
Where is W D Adkins?
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, W D Adkins has been writing professionally since 2008. He writes about business, personal finance and careers. Adkins holds master's degrees in history and sociology from Georgia State University. He became a member of the Society of Professional Journalists in 2009.
