How to Find Shares in Your Name

Many people own shares of stock they cannot locate, often due to forgotten investment accounts, inherited shares with incomplete documentation, or lost physical certificates. Shares can also become lost if an investor moves and fails to update their address, leading to unclaimed dividends. Finding these shares involves a systematic approach, starting with preparation and moving through various search avenues.

Preparing for Your Search

Before searching for lost shares, gather specific personal and financial information. Compile all full legal names you have used, including maiden or previous names, and all past addresses associated with you or the original shareholder. Historical address information is useful as unclaimed property records are often tied to the last known address.

Collect relevant documents to substantiate your claim and provide account details. Old tax returns with Schedule B (Interest and Ordinary Dividends) can indicate past dividend income. Bank statements showing dividend deposits, old brokerage statements, or physical dividend checks offer direct evidence of share ownership. For inherited shares, estate documents like wills, probate records, and death certificates establish your legal right to the assets. These documents provide identifiers such as account numbers or company names.

Searching Unclaimed Property and Public Databases

Start by searching state unclaimed property databases. These databases hold assets turned over by companies and financial institutions after inactivity, typically three to five years. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) offers MissingMoney.com, allowing searches across many states simultaneously. You can also visit individual state treasury or controller websites.

When searching, input your full legal name and any variations, along with past addresses. For inherited shares, search using the deceased individual’s name, often requiring their Social Security Number (SSN) or the estate’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). If a match is found, the database provides information on the company, property type (e.g., shares, uncashed dividends), and claim instructions. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) EDGAR database is another resource. While EDGAR does not list individual shareholdings, it can be used to research company names, identify mergers or acquisitions, and find successor companies, helpful if the company you invested in has changed.

Engaging with Transfer Agents and Brokers

If direct searches of unclaimed property databases do not yield results, or if you have specific company names, contacting stock transfer agents and brokerage firms becomes the next step. A stock transfer agent is a financial institution, often a bank or trust company, that maintains records of a company’s shareholders, issues and cancels stock certificates, and handles dividend distributions. Most publicly traded companies list their transfer agent on their investor relations section of their website. You can typically find their contact information there.

When contacting a transfer agent, provide them with as much detail as possible, including your full legal name, any previous names, Social Security Number, and all past addresses. If you have any old account numbers, share certificate numbers, or approximate dates of ownership, share those as well. The transfer agent can confirm whether shares are registered in your name and provide details about current holdings, dividend history, or the process for reissuing lost certificates, which often involves submitting an affidavit and potentially purchasing a lost securities bond. If you suspect the shares were held in a brokerage account, reach out to the brokerage firm directly. If the firm has undergone a merger or acquisition, you may need to research its successor firm to determine where your records might now reside.

Seeking Specialized Assistance

For challenging searches, such as very old holdings, shares in merged companies, or complex inherited estates, specialized assistance can be a prudent course of action. Stock tracing services specialize in locating forgotten or lost assets, including shares, and often charge a fee, which might be a percentage of the recovered assets or a flat rate. These services possess extensive databases and expertise in navigating complex corporate histories and unclaimed property regulations.

For inherited shares, especially if there are disputes, unclear wills, or significant assets involved, consulting a probate attorney can be highly beneficial. A probate attorney can help administer the estate, identify assets, and navigate the legal requirements for transferring ownership, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws. They can also assist with cases where physical share certificates are lost, guiding the process for obtaining replacements. While not always necessary, professional assistance can streamline the recovery process and provide peace of mind in intricate scenarios.