How to Update Your Specimen Signature With the RTA
The signature an RTA holds against your folio may be one you gave in 1993. Signatures drift over decades, and the mismatch usually surfaces at the worst possible moment — in the middle of a claim, when it causes a rejection.
At ClaimMyFunds we would always rather fix a signature before a claim than after a rejection. The second route means re-filing the entire request.
In short
A changed signature is corrected by submitting Form ISR-2, a banker's attestation confirming your current signature, to the RTA. It is far easier to do this proactively than to fix it after a claim has been rejected.
When This Applies to You
- Your handwriting has changed with age or illness
- A transfer, transmission or IEPF claim was queried for signature mismatch
- The original specimen was never properly recorded
- You signed the original certificate decades ago and cannot reproduce it
- You are preparing a claim and want the folio clean before filing
Step by Step
Ask the RTA what they hold
Some RTAs will confirm whether a specimen is on record and whether it matches a fresh sample. Worth knowing before you spend anything.
Obtain Form ISR-2 from the RTA or company website
Use the current version published by the RTA that holds your folio.
Take it to your bank in person
Sign in the presence of the branch official. Do not sign it in advance at home — some banks require the officer to witness the signature.
Check the bank has completed everything
The official's printed name, designation and employee code, plus the branch stamp and the bank's round seal. Missing any of these is the usual reason ISR-2 comes back.
Send it to the RTA promptly
Attestations more than a few months old are sometimes questioned. Post it soon after obtaining it, with tracked delivery.
Consider a supporting affidavit
Where the difference is dramatic, an affidavit explaining the change strengthens the file. Ask the RTA whether they want one.
What to Attach
- Form ISR-2 attested by your bank
- Self-attested PAN copy
- Address proof
- An affidavit explaining the change, where the RTA asks for one
- A copy of the share certificate for reference
Where to Send It
Send to the company's RTA, together with whatever primary request it supports — a KYC update, transfer or claim.
Stuck on this?
Signature already caused a rejection? Send us the query letter and we will work out what the Registrar actually needs.
Free first assessment — we tell you what is recoverable before any fee is discussed.
Why These Get Rejected
Across the files we handle at ClaimMyFunds, almost every returned form fails for one of these reasons.
How Long It Takes
Indicative timings from cases we have handled. The variable that matters most is whether the file is complete when it arrives.
| Stage | Typical | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Ask the RTA what specimen they hold | 1-2 weeks | Worth doing before spending anything. |
| Obtain ISR-2 attestation at your bank | Same day to 1 week | Go in person. |
| Send it to the RTA | 1-3 days | Promptly, since older attestations are sometimes questioned. |
| Specimen updated | 3-6 weeks | After which transfers and claims should proceed normally. |
What It Actually Costs
Indicative only. Stamp duty, notary rates and RTA service charges vary by state and by registrar, so treat these as what to budget for rather than a price list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How different does a signature have to be before it is a problem?
There is no published tolerance — it is a judgement made by the RTA's verification staff. In practice, a signature that has changed materially in style, or shortened from a full signature to initials, tends to be queried.
Can I update my signature without a bank attestation?
Rarely. ISR-2 is specifically a banker's verification and most RTAs will not accept a substitute. In exceptional circumstances they may agree alternative documentation, but you would need to arrange that with them first.
Is this the same as fixing a signature mismatch on a rejected claim?
It is the same underlying remedy, but doing it before you file is much cheaper. After a rejection you generally have to submit the whole request again.
Do all joint holders need to update?
Only those whose signature has actually changed. If one holder's signature still matches, they need nothing.
Does an old, illegible signature on the certificate itself matter?
The certificate is only evidence of the holding. What matters for verification is the specimen the RTA holds, and whether your current signature matches it.
Can ClaimMyFunds sort out a signature mismatch?
Yes. We establish what specimen the Registrar holds, arrange the correct ISR-2 wording, tell you exactly what your bank must stamp, and where the difference is significant we prepare a supporting affidavit as well.
About ClaimMyFunds
You have just read a detailed walkthrough of a SEBI investor form. We publish these because the same handful of mistakes cost investors months, and most of them are avoidable.
We are a share recovery practice based in Ahmedabad, working with investors, legal heirs and NRIs across India. We have resolved more than 2,500 cases covering IEPF claims, unclaimed dividends, duplicate certificates, transmission and physical-to-demat conversion. We handle the paperwork end to end, and we tell you at the outset whether a case is worth pursuing.
Want Us to Handle the Paperwork?
We at ClaimMyFunds prepare the correct forms, tell you exactly what to get notarised or attested locally, and follow the file through with the Registrar. The first assessment is free.
B/512, The Grace Business Park, Science City Road, Sola, Ahmedabad 380060