Free Stock Certificate Templates

What Is a Stock Certificate?

A Stock Certificate refers to a formal instrument that verifies the shareholder's right to own company stock. Nowadays, most companies issue electronic certificates; however, many of them still use traditional paper documentation that can be given to individuals that wish to own a stake in a corporation, sometimes as a symbolic gesture. In case you prefer to work with physical certificates, identify the features that make a Stock Certificate template unique and discover how to prevent fraud - the process of becoming an owner of shares may seem challenging so it is crucial to differentiate between real certificates and fake documents.

You may see a full list of Stock Certificate templates by checking out our library below.

How to Get a Stock Certificate?

Here are some tips you should take into account once you make a decision to obtain a Certificate of Stock:

1. Carry out research to figure out whether the company that issues the stock you are interested in continues its stock market and what its history and reputation are. In order to discover more about the organization, you may talk with their transfer agent - they will tell you if it is possible to purchase Stock Certificates from the company directly or if you have to deal with the agency.

2. Contact a local brokerage firm or an individual broker - although they will charge you money for obtaining a Stock Certificate for you, this way is considered one of the safest and wisest when it comes to establishing ownership of stock that belongs to a particular company. Note that you have to discuss with the broker how long the process of getting the certificate will take as well as agree upon a fee beforehand.

3. Make sure the document you are holding in your hands or seeing on your screen contains the details that allow you to identify the stock in question as well as its owner and it is not just a blank Stock Certificate. Look for a Stock Certificate number assigned by the company that issued the stock, confirm the value of the stock is indicated in the number of shares you bought, learn the date the ownership was acknowledged (the issuance date), and ensure the instrument has an authenticity seal.

How to Sell a Stock Certificate?

Here is how you may cash in the Stock Certificate you no longer need:

1. Find the contact details of the transfer agent that helped you buy the stock of a specific company in the first place and ask them to transfer your stock to the system they use to register shares - even if you do not hold a paper certificate, you can get rid of it without a physical copy. This procedure takes around one or two weeks - when the stock is in the system, the transfer agent will notify you - and you get to sell the stock whether you opt for an immediate sale or wait for any beneficial changes in the stock market.

2. Work with a brokerage firm - brokers often offer their clients to sell stock they currently own without an additional fee making it an appealing option for individuals that have stock they do not want to use now or in the future. Whether you have an account open with a firm or you have not entered into any previous arrangements with them, it is likely they show you how to sign the Stock Certificate over to them, advise you on how to properly mail the physical copy of the document to the firm, and then sell the stock once it is in the brokerage account you have opened.

3. Do not despair if you stumble upon an old certificate that looks useless at first - even if it is invalid, there is still a chance to earn a certain amount of money for it since old certificates are often deemed to be worthy collectibles. Try to figure out what company this stock belongs to, search for information about them online (go through archives of the company if necessary), and go to a local dealer to ask them how much they would pay for the item you have in your possession.

How to Cancel a Stock Certificate?

In order to cancel the Stock Certificate, you have to write down the word "VOID" on the back of it - although this operation seems simple and straightforward, we recommend you to engage the services of the broker so that you do not have any doubts regarding the process. Indicate the date the cancellation occurs and mention it in the personal records you maintain. You should also note the date the certificate was issued - stockholders usually enter the age of the certificate in the files they keep. Once this is done, contact the transfer agent of the company - they will make sure all the databases are up-to-date with the cancellations, including electronic ones.

If you are wondering whether the certificate you found or located in your documentation is valid and has not been cancelled by anyone, you should look for the word "VOID" written on it; there are some other indicators confirming it cannot be used such as marks, stamps, and hole-punches that make the document lose its value.

Haven't found the template ypu're looking for? Take a look at the related templates and forms below:

• Certificate of Authenticity Template;
• Purchase Agreement Template;
• Shareholder Forms.