Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New Jersey

How to track stocks

Hello,I was recently appointed administrator of my fathers estate. It was a one year long battle and my father died April 28 2004. Is there anyway an investigator can get into the central banking system to track his stocks or assets ? Is there anyplace where stock bought under a street name is filed other than the broker?


Asked on 6/17/09, 4:48 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: How to track stocks

No central place that I know of but here are some suggestions. If the stocks are with a broker, you should be getting regular statements from them. Of course, if mail has not been delieverd and returned to te sender (usually happens when there has been this long a time delay and reporting or changing the mailing address to you). If he had the stocks and they were dividend paying, this may have happened also. If not, a change of mailing address to your location may produce some information. As Administrator you can apply to IRS for copies of old tax returns (a small fee for each is required). If the stocks paid dividends this would be reported in these returns. Final thought: after a number of years of inactivity, assets may be turned over to the Unclaimed Property Fund. This is accessable at the NJ web site (NJ.GOV). Recently we found over $1MM of stock of a deceased client was being held by the fund. Applying for its release is easy anhd can be done by you, as Administrator.

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Answered on 6/17/09, 5:17 pm
Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: How to track stocks

I answered this question. If you did not get my answer, look me up at the web site and check today's answer under my answers, Probate, etc. I have given you several suggestions, but too lenghty to repeat.

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Answered on 6/17/09, 5:23 pm


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