Share Registry Transfer After Death in Australia — Computershare and Link Market Services

Share Registries Have Their Own Rules — Separate From the Banks

When an Australian who held shares on the ASX dies overseas, the executor cannot simply log into the brokerage account and sell the holdings. The shares are registered with a share registry — typically Computershare or Link Market Services — and the registry requires formal proof of death, proof of the executor's authority, and specific documentation before it will transfer ownership or allow a sale.

These registries operate independently of banks and super funds. They have their own thresholds, their own forms, and their own processing timelines. An executor who assumes the bank process covers the shares will discover months later that the shareholdings are still locked.

Computershare Thresholds

Computershare applies a tiered approach based on the total market value of the deceased's shareholdings on their registry.

Under AUD $15,000: The simplest path. Computershare requires a certified copy of the UK death certificate and a certified copy of the will. No probate grant, no indemnity form. The executor completes a Transmission Application and the shares transfer.

AUD $15,000 to $50,000: If the deceased resided outside Australia, the executor can avoid an Australian probate application by submitting a certified copy of the UK Grant of Probate along with a Small Estate Indemnity form. The indemnity is a registry form that addresses competing claims; read its terms before signing. This route saves thousands of dollars in court fees and months of waiting.

Over AUD $50,000: Computershare will not transfer the shares without either a formally resealed UK Grant of Probate (resealed by the relevant Australian Supreme Court) or an Australian-issued Grant of Probate. The alternative — and it is expensive — is purchasing a Transfer Indemnity Bond, a financial guarantee that protects the registry against loss if a competing claim later succeeds. Bond costs depend on the provider and share value and are paid by the executor.

Link Market Services

Link Market Services follows a similar framework. The exact documentation requirements depend on the total value of holdings registered with Link, and the process is initiated through their deceased estate team. Confirm Link's current document-format requirements with that team before sending anything; do not assume a scan or photocopy will be sufficient.

Link's small estate threshold and indemnity provisions are broadly comparable to Computershare's, though the specific forms differ. Contact Link's estate team directly for current requirements, as these are updated periodically.

Documents the Registries Need

Regardless of the value threshold, every share registry transmission requires some combination of:

• A certified copy of the UK death certificate (original certified copy from the registrar or GRO — not a photocopy)
• A certified copy of the will naming the executor
• The Transmission Application form (registry-specific)
• Proof of the executor's identity

For holdings above the small-estate threshold:

• A formally resealed UK Grant of Probate or an Australian-issued Grant of Probate
• Or: a Transfer Indemnity Bond as a financial guarantee

The registries are strict about document format. A "certified copy" means certified by a Justice of the Peace, solicitor, or Commissioner for Declarations — not self-certified, not certified by the executor themselves.

Multiple Registries, Multiple Holdings

Many Australians hold shares across both Computershare and Link Market Services — and possibly other registries for unlisted or international holdings. Each registry is a separate process with separate documentation requirements. An executor with holdings on both registries must submit independent applications to each.

The share values that matter are per-registry totals, not the total estate value. If the deceased held $30,000 in Computershare-registered shares and $25,000 in Link-registered shares, both fall under the small-estate threshold even though the combined value is $55,000.

Timing

Share registry transmissions are not fast. A straightforward small-estate transfer with complete documentation typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. Cases requiring a resealed probate grant take as long as the court process takes — potentially months — plus the registry's own processing time on top.

During the transmission period, the shares remain registered in the deceased's name. Dividends declared during this period are typically held by the registry and paid to the estate once the transfer is complete. The executor cannot sell the shares until ownership has been formally transmitted.

The Australian Dies in the UK — Family Emergency Guide includes a financial asset register that tracks share registry contacts, holdings, and documentation requirements alongside bank accounts and superannuation — keeping the executor from discovering overlooked assets months into the process.