Valuing a Dead Person’s Stocks and Shares

You can while away a good hour on Google and still not fully understand the subtle and, frankly, irrelevant difference between the terms ‘stocks’ and ‘shares’.

Let’s just refer to those pieces of paper as share certificates. But, of course, even that has complications in this modern world. Many companies don’t actually issue paper certificates nowadays. Instead, all records and transactions are stored electronically.

If you are administering the estate of someone who has died and stumble across some share certificates – or believe that shares are held – write to the registrar of the respective share company asking for confirmation that the certificates are still valid.

If you believe shares certificates exist but can’t be found, they may have been lodged with a stockbroker or a bank or an accountant. Write to them, enclosing a copy of the death certificate.

For the purposes of the probate form and inheritance tax, the value of the shares is taken as the closing price on the day of the death – or the previous working day if the death occurred over a weekend or on a bank holiday.

For help with the probate process, contact Heritage Will Writing on 02380 879243.