Ask the guarantor for its exact list. A useful preparation file includes: Record Why it may be requested Unsigned transfer form and the transfer agent's instructions Shows the signature and guarantee the receiving firm requires Government photo identification for the person signing Lets the guarantor check identity Recent statement or share certificate Shows the registered owner, account, and security Death certificate and beneficiary or survivorship record, if applicable Explains why the signer is requesting a transfer Court appointment or trust authority, if signing for an estate or trust Shows the signer's authority for that registration Receiving-account statement or registration instructions Identifies where the shares will go This is a call-preparation list, not a universal packet. Computershare's shareholder-loss checklist separates transfer-on-death, joint, and estate cases. Bank of America's instructions illustrate that an estate representative may need court appointment papers; a will alone may not establish that authority for its process.

Last verified 2026-09-28; facts checked against the primary sources below

Where can I get a medallion signature guarantee for inherited stock?

Last verified: September 28, 2026

The short answer: First ask the broker or transfer agent handling the shares whether your exact transfer form needs a medallion signature guarantee. If it does, ask a bank, credit union, savings institution, or broker-dealer where you already have an account whether it participates in a recognized medallion program and handles inherited-share transfers. Confirm its appointment and document rules before signing anything. A regular notary stamp does not replace a required medallion guarantee.

Confirm the requirement before booking an appointment

The SEC explains that a medallion guarantee protects against forged signatures on securities transfers. It also says the transfer agent can reject a guarantee from an institution outside a program it recognizes. A death alone does not mean every securities form needs a guarantee; the requirement depends on the transfer and the firm's instructions.

Ask the firm receiving your paperwork:

Which form and whose signature need the guarantee?
Which medallion programs and guarantee level will you accept?
Must the signer be the beneficiary, surviving owner, trustee, or estate representative?
What evidence of that person's authority must accompany the form?
Do you need an original form or certificate, and where should it be sent?

If you have not identified the owner registration or transfer agent yet, start with the inherited stock transfer checklist. A transfer-on-death beneficiary still has to re-register the shares, according to the SEC's transfer guide.

Who can provide the guarantee?

The SEC lists participating banks, savings institutions, credit unions, and broker-dealers. It advises starting with an institution where you are already a customer, because some institutions limit the service to existing customers. Call the branch or brokerage office before visiting; participation and estate-transfer eligibility can vary.

You can say: “I need a medallion signature guarantee on a securities transfer after the registered owner's death. I am the [beneficiary, surviving owner, trustee, or court-appointed representative]. Do you handle that case? Which documents, appointment, and guarantee level do you require?”

As one example, Bank of America says its service is limited to certain eligible Merrill or Private Bank clients with an established relationship and requires an in-person appointment. Those are Bank of America's rules, not a general requirement at every institution.

What should I bring?

Ask the guarantor for its exact list. A useful preparation file includes:

Record	Why it may be requested
Unsigned transfer form and the transfer agent's instructions	Shows the signature and guarantee the receiving firm requires
Government photo identification for the person signing	Lets the guarantor check identity
Recent statement or share certificate	Shows the registered owner, account, and security
Death certificate and beneficiary or survivorship record, if applicable	Explains why the signer is requesting a transfer
Court appointment or trust authority, if signing for an estate or trust	Shows the signer's authority for that registration
Receiving-account statement or registration instructions	Identifies where the shares will go

This is a call-preparation list, not a universal packet. Computershare's shareholder-loss checklist separates transfer-on-death, joint, and estate cases. Bank of America's instructions illustrate that an estate representative may need court appointment papers; a will alone may not establish that authority for its process.

If your institution cannot do it

Ask another institution where you already have a relationship. If none will provide a guarantee, contact the transfer agent or broker that requested it and ask what alternatives it accepts. The SEC specifically recommends contacting the transfer agent when a guarantee is hard to obtain; it also notes that some U.S. financial institutions have overseas branches that may help customers abroad. Do not substitute a notary unless the receiving firm expressly says that its form permits it.

Once the guarantee is applied, keep copies of the signed form and the delivery record. Confirm with the receiving firm that it accepted the package and registered the shares correctly. For directly registered Computershare shares, use the Computershare estate guide to get its case-specific packet.

The broker, transfer agent, and guarantor set their own document requirements. This guide helps you prepare questions and records; it does not decide who owns the shares or provide legal or tax advice.