How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at AST
Beneficiaries are managed by mail. Trust paperwork is taken by mail
AST is now part of EQ Shareowner ServicesAcquired, effective December 2021
Affiliates of Siris Capital Group completed the acquisition of AST and the combination of Equiniti and AST on December 14, 2021; Equiniti Trust Company, LLC is the new name for American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. astfinancial.com redirects to EQ's AST Access site, which states "AST is now EQ." Legacy AST-registered shares are still serviced on the AST book (Shareholder Central at us.astfinancial.com; call center 800-937-5449). Equiniti's owner Siris agreed on May 5, 2026 to sell Equiniti to Bullish (NYSE: BLSH) in a $4.2 billion transaction expected to close in January 2027, subject to regulatory approval — that deal does not change how an estate transfers AST-registered shares today.
Preparing your AST registered shareholdings for transfer starts with the beneficiary or registration on file, which controls who inherits without probate. Where it applies, AST accounts can also be titled to a revocable living trust; the right approach depends on the account type and your broader plan.
The transfer rules at AST vary across 3 registered shareholdings. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.
Beneficiary form at AST
Stock Power Form (AST Transfer of Ownership Package, rev. 2025-07-23) (for directly registered sharess).
Open the form →- Account number, company of stock, and the registration exactly as it reads on statements, certificates and tax forms
- Whether all shares or a specific number of DRS, plan and certificate shares are moving to the new registration
- Use a separate form for each account and each company of stock
Required Documents
- Stock Power Form, completed (one form per account and per company of stock)
- Account number, company of stock and the current registration. The registration exactly as it reads on statements, certificates and tax forms
- Name of the TOD beneficiary. Entered on Line 4a, with the owner on Line 1
- Address and Tax ID for the account
- Medallion Signature Guarantee (on the owner's signature in Section E). A notary seal is not a substitute
- Line 1 (and Line 2a / Line 3 for additional trustees): the names of the trustees
- Line 4a: the name of the trust
- Line 4b: the date of the trust, which must be the original trust date and not an amendment date (no date applies to a trust created under a will)
- The address for the new account and the trust's Tax ID (SSN or EIN), with the SSN/EIN box checked
Required Documents
- Stock Power Form with the Trust registration selected (one per account and per company of stock)
- Trustee names, trust name and the original trust date. The Stock Power Form itself carries the trust facts. EQ does not ask for the full trust document to re-register shares into a trust
- Trust Tax ID (SSN or EIN)
- Medallion Signature Guarantee (on the current owner's signature (Section E)). A notary seal is not accepted
- Substitute Form W-9 signed by the trustee (Section G)
- Original stock certificates (for certificate shares). Or a completed lost-certificate replacement first
- Certificate of Fiduciary Authority (where a successor trustee is acting on an existing trust registration). EQ's named form for a successor trustee
- Certified copy of a Trustee Amendment (where the transfer follows the death or resignation of a trustee)
What AST says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is AST's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary1
- Directly registered shares
TOD registration is not offered outside the United States.1
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- All accounts
Only one TOD beneficiary can be designated per account registration. A second beneficiary needs a second account.1
What a designation takes to be effective
Beneficiary forms AST issues1
- Stock Power Form (AST Transfer of Ownership Package, rev. 2025-07-23)
For directly registered sharess. Available to download.1
Return to
Mailing address: EQ, Attn: OnBase, PO Box 500, Newark, NJ 07101 (courier: EQ, Attn: OnBase, 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120)
What AST's agreement says about beneficiaries2
- Automatic payments and direct deposits
Direct deposit of dividends and DRIP enrollment do not carry over to a new registration and must be re-established in writing. Direct deposit requires a pre-printed voided check or savings deposit slip.1
- Whether a new account is opened
When the transfer is completed, EQ sends a statement to the original owner showing the shares out and a statement to the new owner showing the shares in.1
Trust account forms AST issues2
- Stock Power Form (AST Transfer of Ownership Package, rev. 2025-07-23)
For directly registered sharess. Available to download.1
Return to
Mailing address: EQ, Attn: OnBase, PO Box 500, Newark, NJ 07101 (courier: 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120)
- Certificate of Fiduciary Authority
Completed by a successor trustee acting on an existing trust registration. Sent by the institution on request.1
What AST says about trust accounts4
- Whether a new account is opened
A new account is created for the trust registration. When the re-registration completes, EQ mails a statement to the old registration showing the shares out and one to the trust account showing the shares in.1
- Automatic payments and direct deposits
Features on the prior account, direct deposit of dividends and DRIP enrollment, do not carry over and must be re-established in writing on the new account. Direct deposit requires a pre-printed voided check or savings deposit slip.1
- Successor trustees
A successor trustee acting on an existing trust registration supplies a Certificate of Fiduciary Authority, EQ's named form for that role.1
- Fees
EQ charges no transfer fee. The costs in a trust re-registration are the Medallion Signature Guarantee (or the waiver fee) and, where certificates are lost, the $75 replacement processing fee plus a bond of indemnity.1
For US residents, EQ has an arrangement with eSignatureGuarantee.com to obtain a medallion online at a discount with promo code EQ, subject to a $500,000 limit on the value of the transaction.1
Sources1
- 1.AST Transfer of Ownership Package (Stock Power Form), rev. 2025-07-23
Sources
Data sourced from AST primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these AST instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against AST primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
AST estate support
AST Shareholder Services - Transfers
Phone
Transfers desk (direct)
Courier / overnight mail
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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