Investor FAQs
What are physical shares?
Physical shares are paper certificates issued by companies before the dematerialization system. These certificates contain shareholder details and share quantity.
What is IEPF and why are shares transferred there?
If dividends remain unclaimed for 7 consecutive years, shares are transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) maintained by the Government of India.
How can I recover shares from IEPF?
You must file Form IEPF-5, submit documents to the company and complete verification. After approval, shares are credited to your demat account.
What is share transmission?
Transmission is the process of transferring shares to legal heirs when the shareholder has passed away.
How can I get a duplicate share certificate?
If a certificate is lost, you must submit an affidavit, indemnity bond, and identity documents to the company to request a duplicate certificate.
How can I find lost shares in India?
You can begin with old share certificates, dividend warrants, folio details, company papers, PAN records, demat statements, family files, and registrar-linked records. Even partial information can often help trace a forgotten investment.
How do I know whether my shares were transferred to IEPF?
If dividends remained unclaimed for 7 consecutive years, the related shares may have been transferred to IEPF. Investors usually confirm this through company records, registrar references, old dividend history, and IEPF-linked information connected to the holding.
Can legal heirs claim shares after the shareholder has died?
Yes. Legal heirs and nominees can often claim shares, but the exact process depends on whether a nominee exists, whether the shares are physical or demat, and whether the holding has already moved to IEPF.
What is the difference between transfer and transmission of shares?
Transfer usually means a voluntary movement or sale of shares between living holders. Transmission happens after death or by operation of law, where shares move to a nominee, surviving holder, or legal heir.
What documents are commonly required for an IEPF claim?
Common documents include identity proof, PAN, Aadhaar, bank proof, demat details, cancelled cheque, shareholding references, and in heir cases, death certificate and succession-related papers.
Can name mismatch or signature mismatch delay share recovery?
Yes. Name mismatch and signature mismatch are common reasons for delay in duplicate certificate requests, transmission, demat conversion, dividend recovery, and IEPF claims.
What if I do not know the folio number?
The folio number is helpful, but recovery may still be possible through investor name, company details, PAN-linked information, old dividend papers, and registrar records.
Can NRIs recover shares and dividends in India?
Yes. NRIs can recover shares, dividends, and IEPF-linked investor assets in India with the right KYC, bank, and holding-related documents.