Physical Shares to Demat
Paper certificates cannot be sold or transferred as they are. They have to be converted into electronic form first.
In short
A physical share certificate still represents a real holding, but it cannot be sold, transferred or pledged in that form. Converting it into electronic form — dematerialisation — is the step that makes it usable again.
The conversion itself is routine. What is rarely routine is the state of the underlying record: names, signatures and addresses on decades-old certificates frequently do not match what the registrar holds. Those mismatches surface at this point, and resolving them is most of the work.
Does this describe you?
If one of these sounds familiar, this is the right page.
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You hold paper certificates and want to sell Conversion has to happen first.
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Certificates were inherited Usually converted as part of transferring them into the heirs' names.
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You are consolidating scattered holdings Several folios in slightly different name forms.
What we do
Our side of the work, in the order it happens. You are not asked to chase any of it.
- We check the certificates against the register Confirming the holding is intact and identifying any mismatch before submission.
- We resolve what does not match Name, signature and address differences, which is where most conversions stall.
- We prepare the conversion paperwork Including the corrections the registrar requires alongside it.
- We coordinate with your depository participant Through to the holding appearing in the demat account.
What you may need
Indicative, not a checklist to complete before contacting us. Missing paperwork is normal and is part of what we sort out.
- Original share certificates — These are surrendered as part of the process.
- Demat account details — A client master list from your depository participant.
- PAN and identity proof
- Proof of address
Where this usually gets stuck
Knowing these in advance is most of the reason cases move faster with help.
- Signatures recorded thirty years ago rarely match a signature today. This is expected and is resolved with attestation rather than being a barrier — but it is the single most common reason a conversion is returned.
- A certificate with an old address on it does not invalidate anything. Identity is verified through other documents; the address on the register is simply updated as part of the work.
Questions people ask
Can I sell shares without converting them?
In practice, no. Trading requires the holding to be in electronic form.
What if a certificate is damaged?
Damaged certificates are usually handled through the duplicate-issue process first, then converted.
Free check
- We work out whether this is the right route before anything else.
- You will get the route, what it needs and what it costs before you decide anything.
- We never ask for payment to run a check.
You don’t have to work this out alone.
Tell us what you know about the holding, and we’ll come back with the specific next step.