What documents do I need to claim unclaimed shares?
The short answer
It depends on the route, and you do not need to have them ready before contacting us. Missing paperwork is normal and is part of what we sort out.
As a rough guide: every claim needs identity and bank details for whoever is claiming. Claims involving someone who has died need proof of entitlement. Claims where a certificate is lost, a name does not match, or the claimant lives abroad each add their own requirements.
Which of these is you?
The route changes depending on your situation. Open the one that matches — you can ignore the rest.
Always needed Whatever the route.
Identity proof and PAN for the person claiming, proof of current address, and bank account details for where any proceeds should go.
The address on your documents will often differ from the one on the register. That is expected and is corrected as part of the work.
If you have them — proof of the holding Helpful, not essential.
Share certificates, a folio number, an old dividend warrant, or a letter from the company or registrar. Any of these speeds things up considerably. None of them is required to start, because the register — not the paperwork — is what establishes ownership.
If the shareholder has died The most document-heavy route.
A death certificate, and proof of who is entitled to claim. What counts as proof depends on whether a nomination was registered, whether there is a will, and how many heirs there are.
Whether a succession certificate is needed is case-specific, and obtaining one when it is not required costs months unnecessarily. It is one of the first things we establish.
If a certificate is lost Additional declarations.
Registrars require declarations and indemnities before issuing a duplicate, and some ask for a police complaint where a certificate was lost rather than damaged. Requirements vary by registrar and by value, which is why a generic checklist found online often does not match your case.
If you are claiming from outside India Attestation is the added step.
Documents signed abroad generally need attestation before they will be accepted in India, and the form depends on the country you are in. Getting this wrong is the most common reason an overseas claim is returned, so it is established before anything is signed.
See also
Work out which applies to you
Related guides
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Still not sure what applies to you?
Answer three short questions and we will tell you which route fits your situation, what it needs, and what it costs.
- We check registrar and IEPF records against the details you give us.
- You’ll get the route, what it needs and what it costs before deciding.
- We never ask for payment to run a check.