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Intermediate Technical IVT

Re-registration

The process of changing the name or form of ownership in which shares are registered on the books of the transfer agent, such as following a death, marriage, legal name change, or gift.

Full Definition

Re-registration is the administrative procedure by which the registered ownership of shares is changed to reflect a new name or ownership structure. Common triggers include the death of a registered holder (requiring transfer to an estate or heir), marriage or divorce resulting in a name change, the gifting of shares, or a conversion from individual to joint ownership. Transfer agents require specific documentation — such as death certificates, letters testamentary, or court orders — before processing a re-registration. Editors should hyphenate 're-registration' consistently and distinguish it from a 'transfer', which generally involves a change in beneficial ownership, not merely a name or registration change.

Usage

Usage note: Always hyphenate 're-registration'. Do not use interchangeably with 'transfer', which implies a change of beneficial ownership. Verify required supporting documents vary by reason for re-registration.

In Context

  • "The surviving joint tenant submitted a death certificate and completed the re-registration form to transfer the account into her name alone." — Transfer Agent Procedures Manual
  • "Re-registration requests must be accompanied by a Medallion Signature Guarantee when the shares exceed the transfer agent's threshold value." — Transfer Agent FAQ

Also known as

name change account re-registration ownership change

Don't confuse with

share transfer assignment beneficiary designation

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