Old Physical Share Certificates: What to Do
What to do when you find old physical share certificates, lost certificates, dividend warrants or historical folio records in India.
Do old physical share certificates still matter?
They can be important evidence of a historical investment. However, the certificate alone does not tell you the complete current claim position. The company/RTA records and subsequent corporate actions must be checked.
What should you record?
- Company name
- Certificate number
- Folio number
- Distinctive numbers
- Name(s) on the certificate
- Number of shares
- Any dividend warrants or correspondence
Do not throw away old documents
Even if the certificate is damaged or the address is outdated, preserve the original documents until the relevant company/RTA advises what is required.
Dematerialisation and recovery
Depending on the status of the holding, a process may involve transmission, dematerialisation, IEPF recovery or another route. The correct route must be determined from the records.
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