As a convenience, you may elect to have us include your lost certificate(s) under our insurance provider, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America. However, there will be fees associated with using our provider.
If you chose to be included under our insurance coverage, EQ will send you an Affidavit of Loss and Indemnity Agreement to be completed with signatures notarized. You will be required to pay a percentage of the market value of the lost securities at the time the loss affidavit is issued and an administrative fee. This payment is required for the bond coverage needed to process the replacement of the lost certificate(s).
Completed, notarized affidavits and a check for the processing fee may be submitted with appropriate transfer documentation and replacement securities will be issued in the name of the new shareholder.
You must submit a fully completed Transfer of Ownership with W-9 Form for each new owner with original signatures Medallion Signature Guaranteed.
If shares are being transferred to multiple new owners individually, EQ cannot accept instructions using words such as “equally” or “divided between” for multiple parties. The actual number of shares being transferred must be listed on the Transfer of Ownership with W-9 Form. If multiple owners are to be listed under one account, please identify the preferred form of ownership (e.g., Joint Tenants, Tenants in Common, etc.).
On the Transfer of Ownership with W-9 Form, you will have four options for your Transfer Reason and can only select one. You may want to consult with your tax advisor on the definition and tax implications for each type of transfer.
The Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) is an act in some states of the U.S. that allows assets such as securities, where the donor has given up all possession and control, to be held in the custodian’s name for the benefit of the minor without an attorney needing to set up a special trust fund.
Once the child reaches the age of majority (18 or 21, depending on the state), the assets become the property of the child and the child can use them for any purpose.
In the majority of states that have adopted the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA), the assets are treated similarly. The assets are held in the custodian’s name until the child reaches the age of majority.
To provide you with replacement certificates, we must be notified of the loss in writing. You may also report the loss online by accessing your account at this link. A bond of indemnity to replace lost shares must be obtained at your expense.
To change or correct a name or to alter an account title in any form is considered a transfer and a Medallion Signature Guarantee is required.
If shares are in certificate form, the original certificate(s) must be submitted in order to execute the name change request.
If you previously reported your certificate(s) lost or stolen, and you are now in possession of the certificate(s), you must send a signed letter authorizing EQ to release the STOP in order to execute your transfer request.
A bond of indemnity protects EQ and its clients from any liabilities incurred if the original certificate(s) is/are presented for value in the future. A bond of indemnity can also be obtained independently from your own insurance provider or an insurance company of your choice.
A Certificate of Appointment is a court-issued document that proves the authority of the estate trustee to administer the provisions of the deceased’s will. Contact the state in which the registered owner was domiciled to determine whether or not you need a Certificate of Appointment.
A certified true copy is a copy of a document that has been stamped and signed as a true copy of another original document. It is made by an individual who is allowed to take declarations.
A Medallion Signature Guarantee is a special signature guarantee for the transfer of securities. It is a representation by the guarantor that the signature is genuine and the signer is an appropriate person with the legal capacity to sign.
A Medallion Signature Guarantee Waiver is offered for transfers of shares with aggregate value of $10,000 or less on the date on which the transfer request is signed. You can obtain a waiver for the Medallion Signature Guarantee requirement by submitting the necessary transfer documents, a check payable to Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (Market value under $5,000, Fee: $100, Market value from $5,000 to $10,000, Fee: $200), a copy of a valid government-issued identification with a signature (such as a driver’s license or a passport), AND supporting documents reflecting your capacity to act on behalf of the shareholder, if applicable.
An eligible financial institution such as a commercial bank, trust company, securities broker/dealer, credit union, or savings institution participating in the Medallion Signature Guarantee program must guarantee the signature(s).
An Inheritance Tax Waiver is an authorization by the tax department of a deceased’s estate to transfer the securities of the deceased without charging any taxes.
Most states do not require an Inheritance Tax Waiver. However, if the deceased resided in Puerto Rico or any of the 16 states listed below, the date of death is a considering factor to determine if an Inheritance Tax Waiver is required.
To determine the specific Inheritance Tax Waiver requirements for the states listed above, please contact the appropriate tax authority such as the Department of Revenue, Tax Commission, Department of Treasury, etc.
An Affidavit of Domicile is a sworn statement which is to be signed before an official notary public. The purpose of this form is to enable EQ to secure the transfer of shares owned by the deceased at the time of his or her death under the laws of the deceased’s legal residence.
You are required to complete and submit an Affidavit of Domicile to EQ when transferring shares involving a deceased shareholder.
We do not charge a transfer fee. However, there may be fees for replacing a lost certificate and/or obtaining a Medallion Signature Guarantee from the financial institution of your choice.
If your shares are represented by physical stock certificates, contact a broker of your choice. For shares held electronically, please log in to your Shareholder Central account and submit a sale request.
Download the Transfer of Ownership Package.
1. Check for missing signatures. You must have a medallion guarantee signature. This requirement can be waived if the value of your stock being transferred is under $10,000 in value. However, all documents including the necessary transfer documents, a check payable to Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (Market value under $5,000, Fee: $100, Market value from $5,000 to $10,000, Fee: $200), a copy of a valid government-issued identification with a signature (such as a driver’s license or a passport), AND supporting documents reflecting your capacity to act on behalf of the shareholder, if applicable.
2. If your shares are in stock certificate form, you need to include the Original Stock Certificate with the request to transfer shares. If it cannot be located, you must first report it as lost before submitting the transfer request. Account holders can report the loss online by logging into your account at www.astfinancial.com. You will be mailed an affidavit of loss to return to us along with the bond fee. You can submitting both the Affidavit of loss & transfer forms together. Be sure to sign the “Lost Cert Sale” coversheet if choosing this option.
3. The presenter of the transfer documents must sign in their Legal capacity according to the existing registration and not the new one. For example, If the existing registration is in John Doe and Jane Doe Joint Tenant, it needs to be signed by both John and Jane. If the person is deceased or not available to sign, it must be signed by the executor or power of attorney in the presence of the Guarantor of the Medallion.
4. You must complete the W-9 section of the Transfer of Ownership package or submit a separate W9.
5. It is important to complete Section 4 of the Transfer of Ownership package.
6. Please note, only whole shares can be transferred. We cannot transfer fractional shares (except if they are Dividend Reinvestment Plan Shares, for which fractional shares are calculated to three decimal places).
You must submit a fully completed Transfer of Ownership with W-9 Form for each new owner with original signatures Medallion Signature Guaranteed.
If shares are being transferred to multiple new owners individually, EQ cannot accept instructions using words such as “equally” or “divided between” for multiple parties. The actual number of shares being transferred must be listed on the Transfer of Ownership with W-9 Form. If multiple owners are to be listed under one account, please identify the preferred form of ownership (e.g., Joint Tenants, Tenants in Common, etc.).
The Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) is an act in some states of the U.S. that allows assets such as securities, where the donor has given up all possession and control, to be held in the custodian’s name for the benefit of the minor without an attorney needing to set up a special trust fund.
Once the child reaches the age of majority (18 or 21, depending on the state), the assets become the property of the child and the child can use them for any purpose.
In the majority of states that have adopted the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA), the assets are treated similarly. The assets are held in the custodian’s name until the child reaches age of majority.
To change or correct a name or to alter an account title in any form is considered a transfer and a Medallion Signature Guarantee is required.
If shares are in certificate form, the original certificate(s) must be submitted in order to execute the name change request.