How does an executor find out about shares and other assets that a deceased person owned?
Sometimes with great difficulty. Generally the executor gathers up all the deceased person’s paperwork and goes through it to see what assets and what liabilities there is likely to be in an estate. Even if share certificates and building society passbooks have been lost or destroyed, there are usually clues as to the existence of shares and accounts etc by reason of tax deduction certificates arriving annually in the post, as well as company reports and so on. If you suspect there may be shares in a particular company in existence you can write to the share registrars for the company in question and most will be able to give you a quick and accurate response now that records of members are computerised. National Savings are very quick at confirming the existence of premium bonds and savings accounts, if you suspect that there may be any of these in the estate. However many millions in bonus share issues, premium bond prizes and insurance monies go unclaimed every year in the UK which
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