What to do when a Computershare account holder dies
Contact Computershare — 6-step process, 7 required documents, and a few weeks after computershare receives the completed form and all required documentation; a confirmation is mailed when the transfer succeeds
Computershare Investor Services (phone numbers are company-specific; look up the number for the specific company through Investor Center)
Mailing Address
Computershare, PO Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3006. Overnight/certified/registered delivery: Computershare, 150 Royall Street, Suite 101, Canton, MA 02021.
WebsiteLearn more→
Computershare Investor Services (phone numbers are company-specific; look up the number for the specific company through Investor Center)
Mailing Address
Computershare, PO Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3006. Overnight/certified/registered delivery: Computershare, 150 Royall Street, Suite 101, Canton, MA 02021.
WebsiteLearn more→
Deceased Shareholder Transfer / Estate Hub (the Estate Hub generates the transfer package and lists documents to complete and mail; some issuers use a dedicated shareholder line for deceased transfers)
Mailing Address
Computershare, PO Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3006. Overnight/certified/registered delivery: Computershare, 150 Royall Street, Suite 101, Canton, MA 02021.
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
What happens to Computershare registered shareholdings after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Computershare's Deceased Shareholder Transfer / Estate Hub (the Estate Hub generates the transfer package and lists documents to complete and mail; some issuers use a dedicated shareholder line for deceased transfers) to claim the funds.
Computershare provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Computershare:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Computershare of the shareholder's death and identify the account, or start the online Estate Hub, which guides executors, family members, and legal representatives through the transfer
2
Obtain the Deceased Shareholder Transfer Request form for the specific company (Computershare or the Estate Hub generates the package for the account)
3
Complete the transfer form and gather the required documents:
- A copy of the death certificate
- A certified copy of the will, or small estate documentation, when transferring from a decedent's account (small estate documentation must be notarized)
- Evidence of appointment and authority when an executor or administrator signs (for example court-issued letters)
4
Sign the transfer form and have it stamped with a medallion signature guarantee:
- The form must be signed by the authorized representative of the estate, indicating capacity (Executor, Administrator, surviving joint tenant, etc.)
- Obtain the medallion stamp from a bank, credit union, or US stockbroker in the medallion program (find one at msglookup.com); a notary seal is not acceptable
- A medallion waiver may apply for a US resident whose total account value for the stock is under $10,000, with a $50 non-refundable fee payable to Computershare and a copy of a government-issued photo ID
5
Complete Form W-9 (taxpayer identification and certification) for the new owner or the trust/estate to avoid backup withholding
6
Mail the completed form and documents to Computershare; the shares can be kept in book-entry form in the new account or sold during the transfer
Required Documents
- Deceased Shareholder Transfer Request form (signed by the authorized estate representative)
- Copy of the death certificate
- Certified copy of the will, or notarized small estate documentation (when transferring from a decedent's account)
- Evidence of appointment and authority for an executor or administrator (for example court-issued letters)
- Medallion signature guarantee stamp on the transfer form (or medallion waiver: US resident, account value under $10,000, $50 fee, and government-issued photo ID)
- Completed Form W-9 for the new owner or trust/estate
- Trust certification or attorney certification letter dated within 60 days (when the new owner is a trust)
What to know at this institution
Existing Transfer on Death (TOD) accounts follow a different, personalized process — the executor calls the company-specific shareholder line for a TOD transfer form instead of the deceased-shareholder packet. For directly registered shares, the estate works with Computershare, not a brokerage. Shares can remain in book-entry form after transfer or be sold during the process.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Computershare
Computershare asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Computershare requires.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at Computershare: A few weeks after Computershare receives the completed form and all required documentation; a confirmation is mailed when the transfer succeeds. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Computershare includes Deceased Shareholder Transfer Request form (signed by the authorized estate representative), Copy of the death certificate, and Certified copy of the will, or notarized small estate documentation (when transferring from a decedent's account), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Computershare keeps the official shareholder register for the company whose stock the deceased owned. When shares are held directly on that register (directly registered / book-entry through the Direct Registration System, or as a paper certificate) rather than inside a brokerage account, the estate transfers or sells them by working with the transfer agent. There is no broker in between, so the executor deals with Computershare directly.
Notify Computershare of the death or start the online Estate Hub, which walks executors and other representatives through the steps. Computershare provides a Deceased Shareholder Transfer Request form for the specific company. Complete it, attach the required documents (a copy of the death certificate and a certified copy of the will or notarized small estate documentation), sign it with a medallion signature guarantee, include a completed Form W-9, and mail the package to Computershare.
A medallion signature guarantee is a stamp that certifies the signature on a securities transfer. Computershare requires it on a deceased-shareholder transfer form. Get it from a qualified financial institution in the medallion program, such as a bank, credit union, or US stockbroker; you can find a participant at msglookup.com. A notary seal is not accepted in place of a medallion.
For a transfer from a deceased shareholder's account, Computershare asks for a copy of the death certificate and a certified copy of the will, or small estate documentation (which must be notarized). When an executor or administrator signs, the request must include evidence of appointment and authority, such as court-issued letters. Missing or incorrect documents are the most common reason a transfer is rejected.
Shares registered jointly with right of survivorship (the registration reads "and," not "or") pass to the surviving joint holder at death. Shares with a Transfer on Death (TOD) beneficiary pass to that beneficiary outside probate. TOD accounts follow a different, personalized process, so the representative calls the company-specific shareholder line to get the correct TOD transfer form rather than the standard deceased-shareholder packet.
Yes. A directly registered account can be re-registered into the name of a revocable living trust, or carry a Transfer on Death beneficiary that passes the shares outside probate. Both changes are made on a Computershare transfer or enrollment form and may require a medallion signature guarantee; a trust registration also requires trust certification or an attorney certification letter dated within 60 days.
When the deceased had multiple Computershare registered shareholdings, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Deceased Shareholder Transfer / Estate Hub (the Estate Hub generates the transfer package and lists documents to complete and mail; some issuers use a dedicated shareholder line for deceased transfers) can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
- computershare.com
- transferstock.computershare.com
- www-us.computershare.com
- cda.computershare.com
- deceasedestates.computershare.com
- us-deceased.computershare.com
Data sourced from Computershare primary sources (9 pages reviewed). How we research.
Computershare Investor Services (phone numbers are company-specific; look up the number for the specific company through Investor Center)
Mailing Address
Computershare, PO Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3006. Overnight/certified/registered delivery: Computershare, 150 Royall Street, Suite 101, Canton, MA 02021.
WebsiteLearn more→
Computershare Investor Services (phone numbers are company-specific; look up the number for the specific company through Investor Center)
Mailing Address
Computershare, PO Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3006. Overnight/certified/registered delivery: Computershare, 150 Royall Street, Suite 101, Canton, MA 02021.
WebsiteLearn more→
Deceased Shareholder Transfer / Estate Hub (the Estate Hub generates the transfer package and lists documents to complete and mail; some issuers use a dedicated shareholder line for deceased transfers)
Mailing Address
Computershare, PO Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3006. Overnight/certified/registered delivery: Computershare, 150 Royall Street, Suite 101, Canton, MA 02021.
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
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