Finding old shares or unclaimed dividends in the family's name is usually good news. With the right documents and a little patience, most of them can be brought back to the family.
We help families trace these holdings and recover them calmly, step by step, with the family in control throughout.
Why families work with us
- One person, start to finishYou deal with one named professional from the first search to the final distribution. You don't have to chase registrars, advocates and offices yourselves.
- ExperienceMore than 10 years in this work and over 50 cases, including families of IAS officers, bankers and journalists, across many kinds of investments.
- Qualified professionalsLegal documents are prepared by advocates, and tax is worked out by chartered accountants we have worked with for years.
- We look for more than is already knownWe search each family member's records individually and together, company by company, using IEPF records, dividend history and registrar letters. This often finds shares and dividends no one knew about.
- The simplest route the rules allowThe rules have changed a lot in recent years and are still changing. For each case, we choose the documentation route that saves the most time and cost.
- Personal accountabilityA named professional stands behind the work personally. It isn't left to a faceless company.
How we work
Search
We match old certificates and letters with registrar and IEPF records, and prepare one list of all holdings and pending dividends.
Documents
For each company, we confirm which documents the registrar will accept and choose the quickest, lowest-cost route.
Claim
The family decides who the claimant or claimants will be. Every claim is filed in the claimants' own names.
Transfer
The shares are credited to the claimants' own demat accounts.
Sell or hold
You decide whether to keep the shares or sell them, with the tax worked out first.
Distribution
If the family has agreed to share the proceeds, they are divided as agreed, with a clear statement for everyone.
Once we've seen your papers, we share a written plan with the expected timelines and costs for your case.
Where families go wrong, and why
Recovering shares means handing over identity proofs, specimen signatures and bank details, which are enough to open accounts or move holdings in your name. Unclaimed shares also attract people who see an opportunity in a family's lack of information.
- There are no authorised agentsNeither SEBI nor the IEPF Authority appoints anyone to do this work. Be wary of anyone who claims special access, or promises a fixed date or a guaranteed result.
- Watch for anyone who wants controlBe careful if someone wants claims sent to their own address, email or mobile number, wants to keep your original documents, or asks you to share OTPs. These are the usual signs of trouble.
- Ask who is accountableKnow who is handling your documents, who the advocate and chartered accountant are, and who you can hold responsible at each step.
How we keep your family safe
- Your address, your email, your mobileEvery claim form, registrar letter and IEPF communication goes out from, and comes back to, the family's own address, email ID and mobile number. Never ours, and never anyone else's.
- Your originals never leave your handsDon't give original certificates or documents to any intermediary, including us. We come to your home, prepare the papers with you there, and you send the courier to the registrar or authority yourself.
- Your inbox, your recordsAll emails stay in your own mailbox and under your control, so you can see every reply directly and never have to rely only on our word.
- Always in your own nameClaims are made by the claimants, in their own names, and the shares are credited to their own demat accounts. We only assist.
- You always know where things standA shared tracker shows the status of each holding, the next step and the expected time. Important updates also come to you by email.
- Your data is protectedPersonal and financial details are handled with care, in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
What to expect
- Timelines varyThey depend on the records available, on registrar, IEPF and court processing, and on rules that keep changing.
- Records may be incompleteOld certificates may be damaged or missing, and names or signatures may not match. This can mean extra affidavits or duplicate certificates.
- Tax on saleIf the shares are sold, capital gains tax applies. The original purchase date and cost carry over to the heirs, and a chartered accountant works out the tax for your case.
- Agreement among the heirsClaims and distribution go most smoothly when everyone involved agrees in advance.