my dad bought shares in my name over 30 years ago - is there a way to find them

spencer999

He didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart and it wasn't for my benefit.  He's long gone now, but I'm just wondering if there's some kind of database for share ownership?  I've got a vague idea some were in Lloyd's Bank and BT but, ah me,  it was such a long time ago

eskbanker

spencer999 said:

He didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart and it wasn't for my benefit.  He's long gone now, but I'm just wondering if there's some kind of database for share ownership?  I've got a vague idea some were in Lloyd's Bank and BT but, ah me,  it was such a long time ago

There's no single central database of share ownership but there is one per company, managed by the company's nominated share registrar (details on the relevant corporate websites, typically under 'investor relations'), so you'd need to make contact with each one to ascertain if they have any record of your holding(s).  He didn't pass any details to you or leave any relevant documentation found by his executor?

MyRealNameToo

spencer999 said:

He didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart and it wasn't for my benefit.  He's long gone now, but I'm just wondering if there's some kind of database for share ownership?  I've got a vague idea some were in Lloyd's Bank and BT but, ah me,  it was such a long time ago

No, each company has to keep its own registry, in small companies it may be done by the cosec, for large companies its often outsourced. 

If it was over 30 years ago its fairly likely the share certificate would have been physical so presumably his records were checked after he passed?

If you say it wasnt for your benefit perhaps he'd sold them at some time? I know my mother thought they had various insurances and shares but it turned out my father had cancelled/sold them when his business wasnt doing so well but he was trying to maintain lifestyle. 

wmb194

spencer999 said:

He didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart and it wasn't for my benefit.  He's long gone now, but I'm just wondering if there's some kind of database for share ownership?  I've got a vague idea some were in Lloyd's Bank and BT but, ah me,  it was such a long time ago

Wouldn't his executor have dealt with it?

eskbanker

wmb194 said:

spencer999 said:

He didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart and it wasn't for my benefit.  He's long gone now, but I'm just wondering if there's some kind of database for share ownership?  I've got a vague idea some were in Lloyd's Bank and BT but, ah me,  it was such a long time ago

Wouldn't his executor have dealt with it?

But if the shares were already in OP's name, they wouldn't have been within dad's estate?  I did raise the possibility above that there may have been paperwork that surfaced during that process, but OP should already have been in control of the situation prior to dad's death - what's happened to dividends, etc?

gt94sss2

spencer999 said:

He didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart and it wasn't for my benefit.  He's long gone now, but I'm just wondering if there's some kind of database for share ownership?  I've got a vague idea some were in Lloyd's Bank and BT but, ah me,  it was such a long time ago

You can try https://www.gretel.co.uk/ which is an industry funded service so free to the public

wmb194

eskbanker said:

wmb194 said:

spencer999 said:

He didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart and it wasn't for my benefit.  He's long gone now, but I'm just wondering if there's some kind of database for share ownership?  I've got a vague idea some were in Lloyd's Bank and BT but, ah me,  it was such a long time ago

Wouldn't his executor have dealt with it?

But if the shares were already in OP's name, they wouldn't have been within dad's estate?  I did raise the possibility above that there may have been paperwork that surfaced during that process, but OP should already have been in control of the situation prior to dad's death - what's happened to dividends, etc?

Oh, I see.

Well, the OP should just call up the registrars or try Gretel and give them his details but if Dad somehow bought them in the OP's name he could have just as easily sold them in the OP's name.

Even if they weren't sold, if the registrar is out of touch for so long with a shareholder and they cannot be traced or don't respond to an attempt at contact then the shares can be forfeited back to the company. 

spencer999

thanks everyone I do appreciate your help.  My old man did provide for his family and worked very hard but in later life turned out to be the opposite.  A middle aged George Michael, IYSWIM

HedgehogRulez

‘Cos you’ve got to have faith-ah?