What to do when a EQ Shareowner Services account holder dies
Contact EQ Shareowner Services's EQ Shareowner Services - Transfers — 6-step process, 7 required documents, and typically completed within five business days after the paperwork is received in good order, absent account restrictions. there is no transfer fee.
EQ Shareowner Services
Phone1-800-356-5343
Mailing Address
EQ Shareowner Services, PO Box 64856, St. Paul, MN 55164-9442
Transfers / deceased-shareholder desk (toll-free)
Transfers / deceased-shareholder desk (direct)
WebsiteLearn more→
EQ Shareowner Services - Transfers
Phone1-800-468-9716
Mailing Address
EQ Shareowner Services, PO Box 64874, Saint Paul, MN 55164-0874
Transfers desk (direct)
Overnight / courier mail
WebsiteLearn more→
EQ Shareowner Services - Deceased Shareholder Transfers
Phone1-800-468-9716
Mailing Address
EQ Shareowner Services, PO Box 64874, Saint Paul, MN 55164-0874
Transfers desk (direct)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
What happens to EQ Shareowner Services 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 EQ Shareowner Services's EQ Shareowner Services - Transfers (1-800-468-9716) to claim the funds.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-800-468-9716. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with EQ Shareowner Services:
Filing a claim
1
Contact EQ Shareowner Services to report the death and request the transfer packet (Stock Power Form and instructions), or download the Transfer of Ownership Package from shareowneronline.com under Download Forms
2
The surviving joint owner, TOD beneficiary, or the estate's legal representative completes the Stock Power Form:
- Section A/B: the account being transferred from, and how many DRS, plan, or certificate shares to transfer
- Section C: select Inheritance and enter the date of death and fair market value per share
- Section F: the new registration (individual, joint, trust, estate, or TOD-beneficiary account)
3
Sign Section E in the presence of a Medallion Signature Guarantee provider; if the registered owner is deceased, a legal representative (executor, administrator, or personal representative) may sign and must state the legal capacity in which they sign
4
Gather the estate documentation required for a deceased-owner transfer:
- Copy of the death certificate(s)
- Certificate of Appointment (Letters) dated within 90 days (within 6 months for New York, within 1 year for Connecticut), or the Small Estate Affidavit of the state where the shareholder was domiciled
- An Affidavit of Domicile (a notarized sworn statement) when transferring shares of a deceased shareholder
- An Inheritance Tax Waiver if required by the decedent's state of residence
5
The new owner completes the Substitute Form W-9 tax certification
6
Mail the completed Stock Power Form, any original stock certificates, and supporting documents to EQ Shareowner Services (regular or overnight address below)
Required Documents
- Completed Stock Power Form with Medallion Signature Guarantee (Section E)
- Copy of the death certificate(s)
- Certificate of Appointment / Letters dated within 90 days (6 months NY, 1 year CT), OR the Small Estate Affidavit of the decedent's state of domicile
- Affidavit of Domicile (notarized) for a deceased-shareholder transfer
- Inheritance Tax Waiver if required by the decedent's state of residence
- Substitute Form W-9 for the new account
- Original stock certificates (for certificate shares), or lost-certificate replacement ($75 processing fee) if they cannot be located
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
A Medallion Signature Guarantee is required to transfer shares. For transfers with an aggregate value of $10,000 or less, US residents may qualify for a Medallion Signature Guarantee Waiver by submitting a check payable to EQ ($100 for value under $5,000; $200 for $5,000 to $10,000), a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID with a signature, and documents showing the signer's capacity to act. EQ also offers an online medallion through eSignatureGuarantee.com (promo code EQ; a $500,000 per-transaction limit applies). Original documents must be mailed; faxed or emailed Stock Power Forms are not accepted. Transfers valued over $14 million require contacting EQ first.
Prepare your letter of instruction to EQ Shareowner Services
EQ Shareowner Services asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist EQ Shareowner Services requires.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at EQ Shareowner Services: Typically completed within five business days after the paperwork is received in good order, absent account restrictions. There is no transfer fee. 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 EQ Shareowner Services includes Completed Stock Power Form with Medallion Signature Guarantee (Section E), Copy of the death certificate(s), and Certificate of Appointment / Letters dated within 90 days (6 months NY, 1 year CT), OR the Small Estate Affidavit of the decedent's state of domicile, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
The surviving joint owner, TOD beneficiary, or the estate's legal representative completes a Stock Power Form to re-register the shares out of the deceased shareholder's account. The form is signed with a Medallion Signature Guarantee and mailed to EQ with a copy of the death certificate and the estate documents that apply to the account. Once the paperwork is received in good order, the transfer is typically completed within five business days. There is no transfer fee.
For a deceased owner, EQ requires the signed Stock Power Form, a copy of the death certificate, and a Certificate of Appointment (Letters) dated within 90 days (within 6 months for New York, within 1 year for Connecticut) or the Small Estate Affidavit of the state where the shareholder was domiciled. An Affidavit of Domicile (a notarized sworn statement) is also required when transferring a deceased shareholder's shares, along with an Inheritance Tax Waiver if the decedent's state requires one and a Substitute Form W-9 for the new account.
A Transfer on Death (TOD) registration names one beneficiary per account, and on the death of the owner the shares pass to that beneficiary. To claim them, the TOD beneficiary completes the Stock Power Form (with a Medallion Signature Guarantee), a copy of the death certificate, and an Inheritance Tax Waiver if the decedent's state requires one. TOD registration is not offered outside the United States.
Shares registered to a single individual, with no joint owner and no TOD beneficiary, are subject to probate on the owner's death. The estate's court-appointed executor or personal representative uses the Stock Power Form to transfer or re-register the shares, and provides the Certificate of Appointment (Letters) or, where the estate qualifies, the Small Estate Affidavit of the decedent's state of domicile.
EQ Shareowner Services's EQ Shareowner Services - Deceased Shareholder Transfers can be reached by phone at 1-800-468-9716 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from EQ Shareowner Services primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
EQ Shareowner Services
Phone1-800-356-5343
Mailing Address
EQ Shareowner Services, PO Box 64856, St. Paul, MN 55164-9442
Transfers / deceased-shareholder desk (toll-free)
Transfers / deceased-shareholder desk (direct)
WebsiteLearn more→
EQ Shareowner Services - Transfers
Phone1-800-468-9716
Mailing Address
EQ Shareowner Services, PO Box 64874, Saint Paul, MN 55164-0874
Transfers desk (direct)
Overnight / courier mail
WebsiteLearn more→
EQ Shareowner Services - Deceased Shareholder Transfers
Phone1-800-468-9716
Mailing Address
EQ Shareowner Services, PO Box 64874, Saint Paul, MN 55164-0874
Transfers desk (direct)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
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