FAQS ON RESEARCHING OLD STOCK CERTIFICATE AND BONDS

Question: Do you research old stock certificates and bonds from the U.S. only?

Answer: No. My stock research company can provide company research with old Canadian companies, and sometimes I can conduct a stock search of businesses in other countries depending upon the country. If you have companies to research outside of the U.S. or Canada, please email or call me first.

Question: How long does it take to research old stocks and bonds?

Answer: Stock market research can take anywhere from a few days to 4 weeks. If the company research is in our reference library or in our large 20 year database, I can usually provide you with the company status within a few days. However, business and company research can sometimes take a month if there have been 1) several mergers or name changes or 2) if you have multiple stock certificates to research. Canadian mining or oil stock company research can sometimes take a little longer.

Question: Can an unlisted company stock certificate or bond be cashed in even though it has another person's name on it?

Answer: Perhaps. If the original owner of the stock has "signed off" on the back of the stock certificate even though it hasn't been cashed in, it becomes what is known as a "bearer certificate" which generally means whoever owns the certificate is considered the owner. If the stock certificates are not signed on the back and the company is still in business, the policy on cashing in the stock certificates will vary from business to business and from state to state.

Question: I have three uncancelled stock certificates from an old mining company. What is your stock research company policy?

Answer: If they are all from the same company, there's just one research fee. It is important, though, to tell us 1) how many certificates you have and 2) the total number of shares. My research fee is based upon each old company researched.

Question: Do you research or appraise other old financial securities or documents besides uncancelled stocks and bonds?

Answer: Yes and the fee is even lower. Our clients have asked us to appraise or authenticate old American currency, paper money, promissory notes, certificates of deposits, bank drafts, money orders, personal or business checks and other types of old financial documents. 

Question: My old stock certificate has small punch holes on the signatures. What does that mean?

Answer: That is one of several types of cancellations which means the certificate has already been cashed in. Other forms of cancellations can include razor-like cuts over the signatures or in the body, punch holes across the certificate or has "Cancelled" written or stamped on the front of the certificate. If your certificates have any of these cancellation marks, it no longer has a cash value. However, it may have a collector (scripophily) value.

Question: If the old stock certificate I own has no negotiable value, how is the collector value determined?

Answer: The collecting field for old stocks and bonds is called "scripophily" (scrip-awfully). People who collect old securities as a hobby have various reasons for collecting them. What determines the collector value depends upon   1) their age (the older the better); 2) their condition (the cleaner the better); 3) their attractiveness (the more colorful and illustrated the better); 4) the state it is incorporated in (geographical); 5) the industry represented (mining, railroads, transportation, energy, etc.); 6) autograph value (a small percentage are signed by famous people)  and 7) the quantity found. A single piece is usually more valuable than finding 50 of them. Supply and demand rule here.

Question: Why not have a stock broker check on my old stock certificates for me?

Answer: You can, except with today's stock market volume, you'll find most stock brokers don't have the time or capabilities to investigate them. They make their commissions buying and selling stocks, not researching them. If they don't find it listed on an exchange, they "assume" its no longer active - that's when they call me. 

Question: Can we pay for your stock research service by credit card or do we need to mail in payment?

Answer: Either way! You can pay by credit card on my secured server and supply me with the company information or print out a one page form and mail it in to me with a check. Simply go to the "Fees & Ordering Page" when you are ready.   

Question: If I'm paying by check, do I need to send you the original certificates?

Answer: No, you keep the originals. You will need to photocopy the front of each different stock company researched and mail them to us by along with your payment. The photocopies can be important because they provide information that can assist in our research. Also, some companies request a copy of the uncancelled stock certificate before providing business information to us.

Now, click "Fees and Ordering" below to have me start your research.

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