I have six (6) original AT&T stock certificates (printed on the old parchment paper) from my deceased parents. The shares total 147. Some of the certificates date back to 1966. Do they have any value? Also, I went to the unclaimed funds website and see that dividends in my parents' name are there. Where do i start? FYI: I went to court and am the administrator for my parents' estate.
Old AT&T stock certificates, also known as physical stock certificates, can have value, but it depends on a variety of factors. The first step in determining the value of your certificates would be to check if the shares are still valid and if the company is still in existence. AT&T is still in business and is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol T, so the shares you have are still valid.
The next step would be to determine the value of the shares. The value of the shares will depend on the current market price of the stock. You can find the current market price by checking online stock market websites such as Yahoo Finance or Google Finance.
It's also important to consider the rarity and collectibility of the certificates. Some old stock certificates have historical or sentimental value and can be considered collectible items. For example, if the certificates were issued before a merger or acquisition, they may be more valuable. Additionally, if the certificates are in good condition and feature interesting design elements or historic engravings, they can be considered collectible.
Regarding the dividends, you should contact the company's transfer agent to see what the process is for claiming the dividends. The transfer agent is the company that handles the transfer of stock ownership and is usually listed on the stock certificate. For AT&T, the transfer agent is Computershare. They should be able to provide you with information on how to claim the dividends.
Computershare is the transfer agent for AT&T, which means that they handle the transfer of stock ownership for the company. To contact Computershare, you can follow these steps:
Alternatively, you can reach Computershare by phone at (800) 368-5948. You can also reach them by mail at:
Computershare P.O. Box 505000 Louisville, KY 40233-5000
Note that when you reach out, you may need to provide proof of your identification and proof of your capacity as the administrator of your parents' estate. Additionally, you will also need to provide the details of the certificates and any other required information for them to process your request.
It's also important to note that as the administrator of your parent's estate, you will need to report the stock and dividends as assets of the estate and pay any taxes due on them. You should consult with a tax professional to ensure you are aware of all the tax implications.
In summary, your AT&T stock certificates have value and the dividends are claimable. The next step would be to determine the value of the shares and check the process of claiming the dividends with the transfer agent. As the administrator of your parents' estate, you should also consult with a tax professional to understand the tax implications of the assets.
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