can a person who owns stocks change names on stocks without a lawyer

by Quincy Wolf 7 min read

If stock must be probated, you can transfer ownership and make the name change only if you are the executor of the estate. Contact the brokerage firm or other financial institution if the stock is held in an account for which you are the named beneficiary. Furnish the broker with a copy of the death certificate and proof of your identity.

Full Answer

Can you transfer stock into someone else's name?

Can You Transfer Stock Into Someone Else's Name? If you own stocks, you have the legal right to transfer ownership to someone else. There are no penalties or rules prohibiting the transfer of assets. You do not have to sell the shares either. The method used to transfer your stock depends on how your stock is currently held.

Can I change the name of my inherited stocks?

You can to do this yourself when you inherit stock that does not have to go through probate. If stock must be probated, you can transfer ownership and make the name change only if you are the executor of the estate.

How do I change ownership of my stock?

Your stock is allocated to you internally within the broker's operational records, but as far as the company whose shares you own is concerned, ownership remains with your broker. That means that you'll have to work with your broker to change stock ownership.

What happens when an individual owns stock in a company?

If an individual owns stock, they have a share of ownership in a company. They are also entitled to a share of the company’s assets or earnings. The more stock an individual owns, the more assets or earnings they are entitled. There are two different kinds of stock, common and preferred.

Can you transfer stock ownership to someone else?

Key Takeaways. Stocks can be given to a recipient as a gift whereby the recipient benefits from any gains in the stock's price. Gifting stock from an existing brokerage account involves an electronic transfer of the shares to the recipients' brokerage account.

Can you change the name on a stock?

Submit the signed stock ownership certificate, the stock power form and W-9 form to your brokerage firm or the company you have stock through. If you are changing your own name, due to marriage, divorce or court order, include a certified court document that verifies and authenticates your name change.

Can you transfer stock to a family member?

Yes, you can gift stock to family members — or to anyone, for that matter. If you already own stocks and want to give them to another person, the process will involve transferring the stocks from your brokerage account to the brokerage account of the recipient.

How do you retitle stock certificates?

The stock or bond power may be printed on the back of the certificates; if not, you can probably find a copy at an office supply store. Send these documents to the transfer agent with a letter requesting that the certificates be reissued in your name as trustee of the living trust.

How do you change ownership of a stock?

The process of changing stock ownership The broker will simply make the transfer on its own internal books. If you transfer shares outside your broker, you'll need a broker-to-broker transfer form, and your current broker will need instructions on how to make the transfer to the receiving broker.

What happens when a stock changes names?

The ticker symbol of an acquired company usually changes to the acquirer's after the completion of a merger. A company that changes its name may change its ticker. When companies are delisted from their exchanges, the symbol changes. Investors don't need to do anything after a ticker symbol changes.

Can you transfer stock to another person tax free?

There are no tax implications for the recipient when the shares are transferred, but you may face a gift tax if the value of the stock transfer exceeds a certain amount.

How do I transfer stocks to my children?

To do so, parents need to set up a custodial brokerage account — often called a UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) or UGMA (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) account —for their children or another minor in their care. Then, guardians can buy the stocks they want via the account for their kids.

Can I transfer my shares to my wife?

Yes, you can transfer shares from any account to your account by giving off-market delivery instructions slip to holders DP. There are some minimum charges to transfer the shares. As you are doing the transfer of shares within a family, so we don't see any major issue from the income tax department.

How do you change a stock certificate?

You can find out who your company's transfer agent is by contacting its investor relations department. Then, the transfer agent will have you send in any paper stock certificates you have, along with a letter of instruction to instruct it on how to change the ownership of the stock.

What happens to stock certificates when someone dies?

When a person dies owning stock, the certificates remain titled in the decedent's name. You are responsible for selling the decedent's stock holdings if you are named as the trustee of the decedent's trust or appointed as the personal representative, also known the executor, in the decedent's will.

How do you transfer stock to beneficiaries?

To facilitate a transfer, the executor will need a copy of the decedent's will or a letter from the probate court confirming that the beneficiary in question is indeed the person entitled to receive the shares. The executor must then send these documents to a transfer agent, who can complete the transfer of ownership.

How to find out who your company's transfer agent is?

You can find out who your company's transfer agent is by contacting its investor relations department.

What does "street name" mean in stock?

Most people who have brokerage accounts hold shares in street name, meaning that the broker they use is the official registered owner of the shares. Your stock is allocated to you internally within the broker's operational records, but as far as the company whose shares you own is concerned, ownership remains with your broker. ...

What do stock investors focus on?

Stock investors typically focus on how to buy or sell shares of the stocks they own. Yet from time to time, you might want to make gifts of stock, either to family members, charities, or other people or institutions.

What is stock ownership?

What is Stock? If an individual owns stock, they have a share of ownership in a company. They are also entitled to a share of the company’s assets or earnings. The more stock an individual owns, the more assets or earnings they are entitled. There are two different kinds of stock, common and preferred. Common stock is, as the name suggests, the ...

What is the right of a stockholder?

A stockholder, or shareholder, has the right to a share of the company’s earnings. They also have voting rights which may be used to vote on certain corporate decisions, such as the election of the board of directors. This may sound like a large amount of power, but that depends on how many shares the stockholder owns.

What is the difference between common stock and preferred stock?

One major difference between preferred and common stock is that common stock has variable returns while preferred stock has a guaranteed, fixed dividend.

Why do investment disputes arise?

Because the majority of investments are secured through the use of a contract, many investment disputes arise over a breach of the contract terms. For example, there may be a dispute over the price of an investment. Common types of investment disputes that are directly related to the investment may involve:

What are the great aspects of stock?

One of the great aspects of stock is that it has limited liability. If the company experiences a financial hardship and creditors are involved, the most a stockholder may lose is their investment in the stock.

How do stock prices change?

Stock prices may change based on the economic concept of supply and demand. The more stock that is purchased, the higher the stock price increases. The inverse is also true. The less the stock is purchased, the more the price will decrease.

What is demand for stock?

The demand for a stock is usually affected by what investors believe the company is worth. A stock is a type of security. Securities also include bonds, debentures, and other interests that involve an investment with a return primarily or exclusively dependent on the efforts of an individual other than the investor.

What happens if a person holds stocks and passes away without naming a beneficiary?

If a person who holds stocks passes away without naming a TOD beneficiary, then the probate process must be initiated. Probate is a legal process for settling a deceased person's estate.

What happens to stock when a person dies?

When a person passes away, the transfer of stock ownership will depend on the provisions made by the deceased before their passing. If a married person who held stocks jointly with a spouse dies, then the surviving spouse typically becomes the sole owner of those stocks. However, the process is different if the decedent held stocks on his or her own.

What do TOD beneficiaries need to do?

The only thing a TOD beneficiary needs to do is re-register the stocks in question in his or her name, which generally involves sending a copy of the previous holder's death certificate and a form of proper identification to a transfer agent (a person in charge of maintaining records of stock ownership), who can complete the transfer. ...

Why do you name a transfer on death?

Most legal and financial experts recommend naming a transfer-on-death beneficiary in order to avoid the probate process. Uniform Transfer on Death Security Registration Act. Many states have adopted the Uniform Transfer on Death Security Registration Act, which allows investors to designate a transfer-on-death ...

Can you transfer stocks to a beneficiary?

However, the process is different if the decedent held stocks on his or her own. Transfer of stocks to a beneficiary. If a person who holds stocks designates a beneficiary prior to their death, then that beneficiary becomes the owner of the stock once the holder passes. Most legal and financial experts recommend naming a transfer-on-death ...

Do you have to list stocks in a will?

The stocks do not have to be listed in the deceased person's will, which means they can be transferred without having to go through probate. If a TOD beneficiary is named, then after the holder of stock dies, his or her securities are transferred immediately to the designed party; the executor or administrator of the original owner's estate does ...

How to change name of stock in probate?

If stock must be probated, you can transfer ownership and make the name change only if you are the executor of the estate. Step 1. Contact the brokerage firm or other financial institution if the stock is held in an account for which you are the named beneficiary. Furnish the broker with a copy of the death certificate and proof of your identity. ...

Do you need a medallion signature to transfer ownership?

Take along your authorization letter as executor, the paper stock certificates, if there are any, and official ID, like a driver's license. Medallion Signature Guarantees are required instead of a notary’s seal to verify your identity and signature on the transfer of ownership form.

Do stock certificates go through probate?

Stock must go through probate when it is held as paper stock certificates or in an account with the transfer agent that does not have a named beneficiary. A transfer agent is a firm that handles securities transactions for the company that issued the shares. Contact the transfer agent for the company.

What happens to a stock when the first owner dies?

When the first owner dies, the survivor of the stock automatically takes full ownership. When both owners have died, the transfer-on-death beneficiary inherits the stock. It is important to note that when the first joint owner dies, the survivor is free to change the beneficiary to another individual, regardless of the wishes of the first owner.

Can you transfer shares of stock after death?

Joint Owners of Stock May Take Advantage of Transfer-on-Death Ownership. If you obtain shares of stock or a mutual fund after creating your estate plan, it is important to consider whether it is time to update the plan. For example, if you designed your plan in order to avoid the need for probate administration after your death, you may wish to ensure that the stock or mutual fund passes automatically to another individual without requiring court oversight.

Why do executors sell stock?

Reasons to Sell Stock. Executors have a fiduciary obligation to safeguard the value of the estate assets and manage them on behalf of the beneficiaries. The executor can sell shares to prevent or minimize losses unless the will directs that the shares be transferred directly to a beneficiary.

What does an executor do when there is no will?

When there’s no will or designated executor, the probate court appoints an administrator to carry out the executor’s functions. It’s the executor’s job to take care of the deceased’s financial obligations, manage assets and distribute property to heirs. At times, an executor needs to sell stocks, bonds or other securities owned by the deceased.

Can an executor sell bonds?

At times, an executor needs to sell stocks, bonds or other securities owned by the deceased. However, the name on an account holding these securities must be changed to the name of the estate before the executor can sell them.

What to do if broker's actions did not satisfy the guidelines set out in your contract?

If you believe the broker's actions did not satisfy the guidelines set out in your contract, the first thing you should do is send a written communication to the broker's firm and manager discussing the facts of the situation. It is possible that the broker and the firm were unaware of the details and will deal with it accordingly, ...

What are the two instances in which your broker's actions are legal?

1. If you have a type of discretionary account for which you have signed documents giving the broker permission to buy and sell securities for your portfolio on your behalf, then your broker may sell from the account.

Can a brokerage sell your stock without contacting you?

If you have a margin account and your equity level has fallen below the firm's maintenance margin requirements, the brokerage has every right to sell your securities without contacting you or obtaining your permission.

Do stocks have to be in alphabetical order?

Instead, the stocks that are sold to cover the entire deficit in the equity level may, for example, be picked in alphabetical order. To top it all off, when selling your securities, the broker may even charge a full commission for the transaction.

Do brokerage firms give margin calls?

Most often, firms are not required to give you a margin call, so if they give one, they are doing so as a customer courtesy. 3. The actions you can expect from your brokerage are spelled out in the margin account agreement that was signed upon opening the account. 4 To ensure it receives the money you borrowed, ...