Quick answer: If a shareholder dies without registering a nominee, their shares are claimed by the legal heirs through a process called transmission. Instead of a simple nominee claim, the heirs must prove entitlement using a legal heir certificate or a succession certificate, an NOC from any co-heirs, and the death certificate, along with their own KYC. The shares are then transferred into the surviving heir's demat account.
Nominee vs no nominee: why it matters
When a nominee is registered, transmission is simple — usually just the death certificate and the nominee's KYC. Without a nominee, the company or RTA cannot simply hand over the shares; it must be satisfied that the person claiming is legally entitled. That means more documentation, and the exact requirement scales with the value of the holding.
Step-by-step: claiming shares with no nominee
- Get the death certificate of the shareholder (multiple attested copies).
- Establish the heirs — obtain a legal heir certificate for lower-value holdings, or a succession certificate / probate for larger or contested estates.
- Collect NOCs from all other legal heirs in favour of the person who will receive the shares.
- Open a demat account in the claiming heir's name — shares are released only in electronic form.
- File the transmission request (Form ISR-5) with the RTA, with all supporting documents.
- Resolve any mismatches in the deceased's name or old signature before the request is processed.
If the shares had already moved to the IEPF, the same entitlement proof is used, but the claim is filed as an IEPF-5 claim instead.
Which entitlement document do you need?
Registrars set their own value thresholds, so the right document differs case to case — getting this wrong is a common cause of delay.
How ClaimMyFunds helps heirs
Claiming a deceased relative's shares is the most paperwork-heavy case in share recovery, and grief plus red tape is a hard combination. ClaimMyFunds guides families through the entire transmission — identifying the correct entitlement route, preparing every document, and following the case until the shares are safely in the heir's demat account.
We have handled more than 2,500 cases across India, including many deceased-holder claims with no nominee. Send us the name on the certificate for a free assessment on +91 90818 47140.
Frequently asked questions
How do I claim shares if there is no nominee?
Without a nominee, the legal heirs claim the shares through transmission, proving entitlement with a legal heir or succession certificate, NOCs from co-heirs, the death certificate and their own KYC.
Do I need a succession certificate to claim shares?
Not always. Lower-value holdings are often released on a legal heir certificate and NOCs, while a succession certificate is required for larger or contested estates. The RTA sets the threshold.
Can shares transferred to IEPF be claimed by legal heirs?
Yes. Legal heirs can reclaim a deceased person's shares from the IEPF by filing Form IEPF-5 with the same proof of entitlement used for transmission.
Can ClaimMyFunds handle a deceased shareholder's claim?
Yes. ClaimMyFunds specialises in transmission and legal-heir claims, including cases with no nominee, and manages the process end to end. Call +91 90818 47140 for a free case check.