I have 7 original AT&T stock certificates totaling 152 shares. Are they of any value? Should I sell them?

Question

I inherited the shares after the deah of my parents, my mom in 1995 and my dad in 2005. 2 certficates are in both my parent's names and the other 5 have just my moms name. The date of purchase and shares are as follows: 4/29/66, (5 shares), Bankers Trust; 1/31/68 (16 shares) Bankers Trust; 2/24/82 (6 shares) Chemical Bank; 2/23/83 (12 shares) Chemical Bank; 2/22/84 (13 shares) Manufacturers Hanover; 3/1/85 (18 shares, Common Stock) Manufacturers Hanover; 12/12/90 (82 shares, Common Stock) Manufacturers Hanover. After the death of my father I was awarded administrator for his estate by the Surrogate Court. I have also filed all the other papers relating to his estate including a tax ID number. My questions are: Can I find out the value of the certifcates without a broker? Will there be any tax implicatins if I sell them? Will I have benefited if they have split over the years? Should I hold onto them? I don't know what to do and need help. Where do I start?

Answer 1

worth about $25 per share i think

Answer 2

Yes, they are worth something and your best bet even though you said without a broker is to contact a broker, preferably your parents broker. Start with their broker and he will be able to guide you in the right direction.

Answer 3

Sorry to hear about your loss.  Your parents were very good investors I should tell you.  I am unable to look up past 87, but there are at least 3 splits your transaction agent will help you with. A 3 for 1 in '87, a 2 for 1 in '93, and a 2 for 1 in '98.  

Ma Bell (AT&T) was one of my Grandfathers favorite stocks.

One of the reasons why is because that they PAID A DIVIDEND!  You have decades of unrealized dividend payments on your Ma Bell holdings.  

Did I also mention that AT&T has spun off some of its companies? Lucent and other bells.  You will have some of this stock as well.

DO NOT LOSE YOUR PAPER CERTIFICATES!

Nowadays there are electronic files, back in '66 there was not.  These Certificates are almost the only way that you can prove that these holdings are authentic.

If your parents did not have a broker, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BANK AND ASK THEM.

Take care and best of luck!  Bye the way, AT&T is paying a 4.9% dividend right now.  That is better than a 30 year bond.

Wow!

Just so you know, we are talking about a SIZEABLE amount of money here, so KEEP YOUR CERTIFICATES IN A SAFE PLACE, until that you meet with your bank or brokerage representative.