<p>I am helping my mother-in-law to fill out direct deposit authorization forms for the stocks dividends. She and my father-in-law who died two and half years ago hold these stocks jointly. My MIL does not want to remove his name from the shares at this time. In reality, she is the sole owner now but the forms require signatures of all holders. Is it legal for her to sign on behalf of her deceased husband on these direct deposit forms?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I doubt it. Forging a dead person’s name doesn’t sound like a good idea to me.</p>
<p>Your mother-in- law needs to get a copy of the death certificate to the brokerage firm. The firm will help her change the name on the account.</p>
<p>If she has the actual stock certificate, there is a way to handle that too. I am sorry I can’t remember the procedure.</p>
<p>You can probably find the answer by googling…</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback!</p>
<p>I guess well have to convince her that she has to remove FILs name from all the stocks they own. They are in paper certificate format. I have talked to her about electronic format but she did not want to. Plus she does not use a computer (she is 85 years old). Ugh We are not talking about just a few stocks here and there. She has many …</p>
<p>I went thru this with my grandmother. I think we brought all the certificates to a brokerage firm and they handled the changing of the names…with a copy of a death certificate. </p>
<p>I copied all the certificates before going to the brokerage firm to give my grandmother peace of mind.</p>
<p>It is time to go electronic.</p>
<p>She had many certificates too including ones of stocks that were worthless.</p>
<p>She doesn’t need to know how to use a computer. I think she can still get monthly paper statements if she requests this. She can see a list of her stocks evety month.</p>
<p>dstark gave excellent advice. I would also suggest, if you have not done so already, speak with an elder attorney asap.</p>
<p>I called my brokerage branch office and they said they would do everything for her with one appointment Transfer name, convert paper certificates and set up direct deposit. All she has to do is to open an account with them. </p>
<p>Now I need a magic wand to convince her.</p>
<p>I have confidence you will be able too…</p>
<p>Sunnyday - While the H’s Estate is still open the Executor could sign for the H. After that the M-I-L’s signature and H’s Death Certificate would probably do. The real danger here IMHO is that M-I-L will pass before getting the Stock Certificate re-registered in her own name. Not persuasive enough? Imagine trying to get a LOST Stock Certificate replaced when both co-owners are deceased … or even worse, both co-owners are deceased and the Stock Certificate is lost and you didn’t even know she owned that stock.</p>
<p>When my Mom died she had one Stock Certificate. It had been mis-registered, and it took nearly a year to get a Transfer Agent to accept the Certificate for deposit. YMMV … and I certainly hope that it does.</p>