Bequeathing non-certificated shares

Sledge68

I am considering dividend investing (online), so will be holding my shares for long periods. One day I would like to pass on any remaining shares in my will. Should I make sure I get paper certificates, or is there no issue with bequeathing non-certificated shares?

PippiShortsock

Please don't get certificates for that reason! Having recently administered my uncle's estate as his executor, I can tell you that share certificates are an absolutely nightmare. There are the piles of SCRIP/DRIP certificates for one or two shares at a time and paper tax vouchers for dividends - irritating to sort through when they're there, far more irritating (and expensive) when they've gone missing! Then there are the mouldy certificates - the result of a flood in the conservatory where they were stored. Then there's the sheer terror of being responsible for bundles of paper which are worth significant sums of money when you're used to bundles of paper being safely stored away in a bank. And the worry that you've missed some and will never even know if they existed.... :eek:

For the sake of those who will come after you, please keep all your investments with one or two safe nominee brokers who can simply transfer their ownership to your executors on receipt of the grant of probate and provide them with a valuation and summary of dividends for tax returns at the press of a button.