How to Sell Stock Certificates
- Method 1 Method 1 of 3: Selling through a Transfer Agent. Know what a transfer agent is. Publicly traded companies use...
- Method 2 Method 2 of 3: Depositing with a Brokerage Account. Sell your stock with a broker with whom you do not have an...
- Method 3 Method 3 of 3: Researching the Value of Old Stock Certificates. Know what a stock...
What do I do with an old stock certificate?
Mar 19, 2021 · In either case, if you want to sell the old stock certificates, you have some choices for selling them. One is by encashing them with the help of the transfer agent of the company who withholds the stock. Another way is by selling them, again with the help of the broker.
How to register, transfer and replace lost stock certificates?
Dec 06, 2010 · 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. ...
What makes old stock certificates valuable?
Call the broker and request a printout listing all the stocks the decedent owned and the market value for each stock as of the decedent’s date of death. …
What are the best tips for selling stock certificates?
If you are not ready to sell, but just need a full retail appraisal, send stock certificate scans to [email protected]. The cost is $5.00 per company. The cost is $5.00 per company. ( I will send my PayPal payment address upon request ) I will reply with an appraisal within 48 hours.
Are old stock certificates worth money?
Does anyone buy old stock certificates?
How do I sell stock certificates?
How do I know if my old share certificates are still valid?
What can you do with old paper stock certificates?
How do I sell old shares of stock?
How do you cash in stocks of deceased?
- Probate the will. ...
- Set up an estate account with a bank. ...
- Review the will to make sure you can liquidate the stock and it isn't listed as a specific bequest. ...
- Reregister all stocks in the name of the estate as soon as possible after receiving the letters testamentary. ...
- Sell the stock by contacting the broker or agent.
Do stock certificates still exist?
Today, most of the world's exchanges have either done away with or are phasing out paper certificates. Stock ownership is much easier to prove now thanks to electronic records and electronic communication networks (ECN).
What is stock certificate?
A stock certificate is the physical piece of paper but holds more value than a normal piece of paper as it represents the ownership in a company.
How long does it take to transfer stock to demat?
It takes approx 10 days to transfer your paper stock to demat via transfer agent. After the successful transfer one can easily sell the share certificate at any time by contacting the transfer agent and informing them that you want to sell.
What is a transfer agent?
The transfer agent is a bank or trust company who acts as an intermediary for the company to pay out interest and stock dividends and to handle the lost or destroyed stock certificates. He is primarily responsible for issuing and canceling the stock certificates. Publicly traded companies take help of transfer agents to manage individuals ...
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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.
What is a DRS certificate?
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. It would be a very good idea to call the transfer agent before mailing your certificate to see if any additional paperwork is required.
Who is Matt Krantz?
Matt Krantz is a financial markets reporter at USA TODAY and author of Investing Online for Dummies and Fundamental Analysis for Dummies. He answers a different reader question every weekday in his Ask Matt column at money.usatoday.com.
Step 1: Head Down to the Library
There are reasonably priced databases although many of those are available at your local library.
Step 2: State Business Entity Search
Let's continue with Bowser Delaware Corp. from the previous steps example. The company was (as we assembled) incorporated in Delaware. From the state of Delaware we can receive the date of termination of the company and the company's last transfer agent which will be critical later on.
Step 3: Contact the Company's Transfer Agent
From our local library we were able to track down the various corporate changes that the company went through. From the Secretary of State's site we found a Business Entity Search. From this search we were able to gather the Transfer Agent information.
Step 4: Professional Help
At this point you have pieced together the entire corporate history for the shares that you own! If the transfer agent requires for you to get proof-of-purchase for your shares or any other legal matters arise it is at this point where professional help can be a very valuable resource.
2 Comments
Is there an updated link for places that can do the legwork on stocks current value? The link in this article is dead