Selling shares

[HeadFairy]

My dad left me some shares when he died, I would like to sell them to find DS and DD having a gap year, but I’ve never done anything like this before. I haven’t the share certificates, but do I need to set up a trading platform account to sell them? I don’t want to do any more trades but just sell them, I don’t know where to start!

Where are the shares held now? Presumably in an online account somewhere?

i don’t think so. I have the share certificates and that’s it. My dad didn’t have them in a share account.

I don’t think he ever set up anything online tbh.

@HeadFairy As this is a one off have you tried asking your bank as many have a share dealing service.

I haven’t yet, I’ll check. The shares aren’t in my name, they are in his name, but our solicitor said as executors we can sell them as the proceeds will go into an account for a trust that was established on his death

Shares and associated certificates for most UK companies are usually ‘managed’ by a registrar company, Equiniti and Computershare being two of the ones that I can name. The registrar would normally be the first port of call to sell them.

I took over a number of shares from my parents, all are managed by Equiniti, including BT, National Grid, Shell, Lloyds. We also have Aviva and SSE shares under Computershare.

The share certificates may name the registrar, in the small print, but a quick google would also help, or ask on here!

Lovely, thanks. I’ve found the registrar so I will try and see if they can manage the sale.