Last verified 2026-09-27; facts checked against the primary sources below

How do I transfer inherited stock?

Last verified: September 27, 2026

The short answer: Find out how the shares are registered and which firm holds the ownership record before filling out a transfer form. A named transfer-on-death beneficiary, surviving joint owner, trustee, and estate representative may each need a different package. Ask the broker or transfer agent for its case-specific instructions and whether the form needs a medallion signature guarantee. Do not sign a form in advance if the guarantor needs to witness your signature.

Start with the ownership record

What you find	Whom to ask for the next package
Brokerage statement	The brokerage's estate or beneficiary team
Directly registered shares or a paper certificate	The issuer's transfer agent
Transfer-on-death registration	The recorded beneficiary contacts the firm about re-registration
Joint registration with survivorship	The surviving holder asks the firm to update its record
Shares held by a trust or an individual without a beneficiary	The trustee or legally authorized estate representative asks what authority the firm requires

The SEC's investor guide explains that a transfer-on-death beneficiary still needs to re-register the securities, commonly with a death certificate and application. It also explains that brokerage firms may offer different registration options. Do not infer the beneficiary from a family member's expectations or a will; ask the firm what its current record shows.

Prepare one case file before requesting forms

A recent statement or certificate showing the issuer, account number, share count, and registration.
The deceased owner's name, date of death, and registered address.
The death certificate and the document establishing the claimant's authority, as requested for this registration.
The intended recipient's name and receiving-account details, if a transfer is appropriate.
A record of each firm's case number, requested forms, submission method, and confirmation.

This is a preparation list, not a universal submission packet. Computershare's shareholder-loss checklist first asks families to identify the account and its registration, then directs them to its transfer process. Its required documents depend on whether shares are transfer-on-death, jointly held with survivorship, or subject to estate authority. For that firm, use our Computershare deceased-shareholder guide to find the official Estate Hub route.

When do I need a medallion signature guarantee?

The transfer agent or receiving firm decides whether a particular form needs one. The SEC says a medallion guarantee protects against unauthorized securities transfers and is obtained through a participating bank, credit union, savings institution, or broker-dealer. It is different from notarization. A firm can refuse a guarantee from an institution outside a program it recognizes.

Ask the firm requesting the transfer which signature, which form, and what guarantee level it requires. Then ask a financial institution where you already have a relationship whether it participates and will handle your type of estate transfer. Bring the unsigned form and the ownership, identity, authority, and receiving-account records it asks for. Bank of America's published process is one example: it distinguishes an owner-death transfer from other transfers, requires an in-person review, and says a will alone does not establish the court appointment it requires for an estate representative. Its eligibility and document rules belong to Bank of America, not every guarantor.

For help finding a participating institution and preparing for its appointment, use our medallion signature guarantee guide for inherited stock.

Before sending anything

If the broker or transfer agent requests a sworn residence statement, see the affidavit of domicile and debts guide. Ask for that firm's exact form and signing instructions before arranging notarization.

Confirm the exact registration and claimant with the broker or transfer agent.
Obtain that firm's current transfer forms and document list.
Confirm whether a medallion guarantee is required before signing.
Check how the firm wants original certificates or certified documents delivered; keep copies and delivery evidence.
Ask for written confirmation that the shares were re-registered, and reconcile the final holding with the estate's records.

If the shares are in a brokerage account rather than held directly with a transfer agent, start with our brokerage-account-after-death guide. An inherited IRA has different account and tax rules; use the inherited IRA guide for that task.

This checklist helps organize a transfer request. It does not decide who legally owns the shares or replace the firm's instructions, legal advice, or tax advice.