Quick answer: Transmission of shares is the transfer of shares from a deceased shareholder to their legal heir or nominee. Transposition is simply changing the order of the names of existing joint holders on a certificate — the owners stay the same. In short: transmission changes who owns the shares because someone has died; transposition only re-arranges the name order of living joint holders.
What is transmission of shares?
Transmission is what happens to shares when a shareholder dies. Ownership passes to the legal heir or the registered nominee by operation of law, not by a sale or gift. Because no transfer deed is involved, the claim is proved with a death certificate plus evidence of entitlement — a nomination, a legal heir certificate, or a succession certificate.
You can read the full process on our share transmission page, including what changes when a nominee was, or was not, registered.
What is transposition of shares?
Transposition applies when the same joint holders appear on a certificate but in the wrong order. For example, a certificate reads “RAMESH & SITA” but the demat account or PAN records read “SITA & RAMESH.” The ownership is identical; only the sequence of names needs to be aligned so the shares can be dematerialised or a dividend paid.
See our dedicated transposition of shares guide for the exact form and documents.
Transmission vs transposition at a glance
Which one does your case need?
If the person named on the certificate has passed away, you need transmission. If all the joint holders are alive and you only need to correct the order of names, you need transposition. Many real cases involve both — for example, a surviving joint holder who also needs the name order fixed before dematerialising.
This is exactly the kind of case ClaimMyFunds sorts out every day. Send us the name on the certificate and we will tell you which route applies, free of charge, on +91 90818 47140.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between transmission and transposition of shares?
Transmission transfers shares from a deceased holder to heirs or a nominee, changing ownership. Transposition only re-orders the names of existing joint holders without changing who owns the shares.
What does transposition of shares mean?
Transposition means changing the order in which joint holders' names appear on a share certificate, without altering ownership — used when the name order does not match PAN or demat records.
Is transposition needed before dematerialisation?
Often yes. If the name order on the physical certificate does not match the demat account, transposition is done first so the shares can be credited correctly.
Can ClaimMyFunds handle transmission and transposition?
Yes. ClaimMyFunds prepares and files both transmission and transposition cases end to end across India. Call +91 90818 47140 for a free assessment of your case.