We take care of the paperwork so you can focus on the legal work.

Bellmont provides a seamless and all-encompassing solution for Australian solicitors handling shares in deceased estates. Our dedicated team provides a range of services which aim to alleviate the administrative burden experienced too often by legal practices.

What does Bellmont do?

Share Sales

Selling shares held in an estate can often seem unnecessarily complex. Bellmont's streamlined approach simplifies the process, allowing shares to be sold without the need to set up a brokerage account. We can facilitate the sale of multiple shareholdings simultaneously and assist whether the holdings are directly registered with share registries (Issuer Sponsored) or held with an external broker (CHESS Sponsored). Our dedicated team handles all the paperwork and liaises with parties such as share registries and brokers, ensuring a seamless process that enables you to manage this aspect of the estate with ease.

Share Transfers

Bellmont takes the complexity out of share transfers by managing all the required paperwork and coordinating with registries, brokers, and other parties on your behalf. Our straightforward pricing model provides transparency and caters to estates with single or multiple beneficiaries, ensuring the process is clear and efficient. By entrusting Bellmont with share transfers, you can ensure timely and accurate execution, giving you more time to focus on other critical aspects of estate administration.

Dividend Recovery

Unclaimed dividends often remain with share registries due to account closures or other complexities during estate administration. Bellmont can help ensure beneficiaries receive all entitlements by recovering these unclaimed funds. Our team checks each shareholding with the respective registry to identify unpaid dividends and facilitates the process of reclaiming these funds. When Bellmont is engaged for share sales or transfers, this service is provided at no additional cost.

Cost Base Reconstruction

Calculating the cost base for shares is crucial for determining capital gains tax (CGT) when shares are sold. Bellmont offers a Cost Base Reconstruction service to support executors and administrators in identifying the original purchase price of shares. We consider factors such as dividends, splits, bonus issues, and consolidations to ensure precise CGT reporting for the estate.

General Search & Verification

If an executor is unsure whether a deceased individual held shares with a specific company, or if a known holding is still active, Bellmont provides a comprehensive General Search service. Our team works with the main registries to identify active ASX-listed holdings registered under the deceased's name and address. This service is offered free of charge to assist executors and solicitors.

SRN Search

The Securityholder Reference Number (SRN) is crucial for managing issuer-sponsored holdings. If the SRN is unavailable, Bellmont offers an SRN Search service to assist in its retrieval. We liaise with the relevant registry to confirm the existence of the holding and proceed with the search. This provides an efficient solution to ensure estate shareholdings can be administered without unnecessary delays.

Value Proposition

Great Value

Finalise estate matters starting from $150 or 1.1% + GST

Fast Processing

We complete all of the necessary paperwork — letting you focus on what you do best

Personalised Assistance

Professional expertise and dedicated service for our valued clients, ensuring an efficient and seamless experience.

Secure Payment

Sale proceeds are settled directly to your nominated bank account in two days

Benefits of Using Bellmont

A pain-free, efficient solution for finalising estate shareholdings
Finalise share sales without establishing an account
Deal with experienced professionals rather than a call centre
Sale proceeds are securely transferred to your nominated trust account
Competitive rates
Any required paperwork is completed by Bellmont for your client's convenience

Fee Schedule

Service	Minimum Charge *
Share Sale	$150 or 1.1%, whichever is greater
Share Transfer	$225 / shareholding **
Dividend Recovery	No Cost ***
SRN Search	$95 / shareholding
Cost Base Reconstruction	Request a quote

* Excludes GST

** Up to 2 beneficiaries, $100 per additional beneficiary.

*** $95 per holding if not engaged for a share transfer or sale.

Contact Us Today!

If you have any questions or queries about our processes and requirements, please get in touch with us via email or a quick call — we are always happy to chat!

02 8042 1990

estates@bellmontsecurities.com.au

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Capability Statement

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A concise overview of Bellmont's specialist broking services for deceased estates — ideal for sharing with your colleagues or clients.

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Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

How long does it take to sell shares?

Once we receive all required documents, we aim to sell shares within 2-4 working days.

What price will my shares be sold at?

Shares are sold through market orders to ensure they achieve the best available price on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) at the time of sale. Prices can move throughout the day, though you are always able to obtain an indicative quote before we execute.

When will the sale proceeds be credited to the account?

Shares sold on the ASX are subject to a T+2 settlement period (trade day plus two business days). The net sale proceeds will be credited to the nominated bank account following settlement.

Can multiple shareholdings be sold at once?

Yes, you can include as many holdings as needed in a single request.

Do I need to send hard copies or post documents?

No, the sale process is entirely online. Simply email scanned copies of the forms, signed with wet ink, along with the required documents, and we'll handle the rest.

How long does it take to transfer shares?

The timeframe depends on various factors, including whether the shares are issuer-sponsored or CHESS-sponsored, the broker or registry involved, and other considerations. Once we receive all required documents, we will liaise with the relevant parties to facilitate the transfer. On average, the process takes approximately 5 to 10 business days.

Can the forms be signed electronically?

Unfortunately, we're currently unable to accept electronic signatures. All required forms must be signed in wet ink.

What are Issuer-Sponsored and CHESS-Sponsored shares?

Issuer-sponsored shares are managed directly with a share registry and are identified by a Securityholder Reference Number (SRN) that starts with an "I." CHESS-sponsored shares are managed through a broker and are identified by a Holder Identification Number (HIN) that starts with an "X."

What is a Securityholder Reference Number (SRN)?

The SRN is essential for managing issuer-sponsored shares and begins with an "I," followed by 9-10 numbers. It can typically be found on dividend or holding statements issued by the registry.

Can I sell shares if I don't know the SRN?

The SRN is essential for managing an issuer-sponsored holding. If it's unavailable, we can assist in retrieving it through an SRN Search. Simply provide the company name, registered name, and address.

What are the main share registries in Australia?

There are currently four main registries: Computershare Investor Services, MUFG Corporate Markets, BoardRoom Limited, and Automic Group.

What happens if shares are held across multiple registries?

We can facilitate the sale or transfer of shares across different registries. You just need to provide the details of each holding, and we'll coordinate with the relevant registries on your behalf.

How do I track the status of my share sale or transfer?

We provide regular status updates throughout the process. For any urgent queries, you can contact our team directly.

How do I engage your services?

Bellmont does not require its clients to set up a brokerage account. Simply email us at estates@bellmontsecurities.com.au or call 02 8042 1990, and one of our friendly team members will be happy to assist.

Deceased Estate FAQs

What do I need to sell shares in a deceased estate?

In order to sell shares in an estate, we require the following:

Shareholding information (company name, HIN or SRNs, and registered address)
Certified copy of the Grant of Probate OR the Will and Death Certificate (subject to probate thresholds)
Certified copy of the executor's valid driver's licence
Solicitor's trust account details, signed and dated on a letterhead or a recent bank statement of the estate bank account

Is a Grant of Probate required to sell shares?

Not always! If the total value of the shares is under $50,000, it will be regarded as a small estate. In these cases, we require a certified copy of the Will and Death Certificate. We will also provide a pre-filled Small Estate Indemnity form for the executor to sign.

Can you sell the shares of a person who passed intestate?

Absolutely! We can assist with selling shares in this situation. For estates where the total value of shares is below $50,000, we'll prepare the necessary forms, including the Intestate Declaration form and Next of Kin form, to facilitate the sale.

Do shares need to be in the estate's name before sale?

Yes, holdings must be registered under "The Estate" before they can be sold. We handle this process for you at no additional charge.

Examples of Bellmont Services

Share Sale — Example 1

Sale of 1,000 shares of Telstra (TLS) at $4

Gross sale proceeds: $4,000

Less brokerage fee: $150 + GST

Net sale proceeds: $3,835

Share Sale — Example 2

Sale of 1,000 shares of CBA at $150

Gross sale proceeds: $150,000

Less brokerage fee: $1,650 (1.1%) + GST

Net sale proceeds: $148,185.00

Share Transfer — Example 1

Transfer of 1,000 units of CBA to two beneficiaries

Bellmont's fee: $225 + GST

Share Transfer — Example 2

Transfer of 1,000 units of TLS and 1,000 units of IAG to four beneficiaries

Bellmont's fee: $850 + GST

($225 base + $100 per additional beneficiary for two beneficiaries, per holding)