Share Valuations & Verifications

Identify, value, and secure shareholdings

What we do

When administering an estate, you need to understand exactly what assets are held and what they are worth.

Shareholdings can be difficult to interpret. Company names change, certificates may be outdated or lost, and values can be unclear.

Title Research helps you verify shareholdings and provide accurate valuations. This gives you a clear picture of the estate, so you can move forward with confidence.

Why verification matters

Not all share certificates reflect the current position. Over time, companies may:

  • Merge or be acquired

  • Change their name

  • Restructure their holdings

This means a certificate may no longer represent the original asset. We help you confirm whether a shareholding still exists and what it has become. This ensures no value is missed and nothing is incorrectly included.

Why choose Title Research

We do more than review the surface details. Our team investigates each holding to confirm:

  • Whether the shares still exist

  • How they may have changed over time

  • Whether additional value, such as unclaimed dividends, is available

This ensures nothing is overlooked, and the estate is fully understood.

How it works

We aim to make the process simple for you.

Initial review

We begin with a free initial review.

What is needed

We confirm what information is needed.

Proposal & cost

We provide a clear proposal and cost estimate. Our fees are based on the work involved, not the value of the shares.

Start work

We carry out the work once instructed.

What we need

Once we’ve verified any shares, the next step is to establish their value. We provide accurate date of death valuations, helping you:

  • Understand the true value of the estate

  • Support inheritance tax reporting

  • Prepare for distribution

Having a reliable valuation ensures the estate is administered correctly and reduces the risk of future queries or disputes.

How we support you

We take a clear and practical approach to share valuation and verification. Our team will:

  • Review share certificates and documentation

  • Confirm whether the holding is still valid

  • Identify any changes due to corporate actions

  • Provide accurate valuations

  • Highlight any additional funds, such as unclaimed dividends

Where required, we can also support the sale or transfer of the shares, helping you complete the process efficiently.

Reduce risk and avoid delays

Unverified or incorrectly valued assets can slow down estate administration.

They can also lead to:

  • Delays in distributing the estate

  • Uncertainty around entitlement

  • Potential challenges at a later stage

We help you avoid these risks by providing clear and reliable information from the start.

Case Study: Uncovering the true value of shareholdings

A client asked us to verify a shareholding discovered within an estate.

At first glance, the certificates appeared to be related to Great Universal Stores (GUS plc). However, our research showed that the original company had undergone several corporate changes, and the shareholder now held shares in Burberry, J Sainsbury, and Experian.

We also discovered that dividends from one of these holdings had not been claimed. As part of our work, we were able to verify the full position and provide an accurate valuation for each holding.

This gave our client a complete and accurate view of the assets, allowing them to maximise the estate value and proceed with confidence.

Get started

Our expert team can help you meet any estate administration challenge.

If you require share valuation and verification, complete the form with a few details. We'll review your enquiry and get back to you within 48 hours.