Frequently Asked Questions

The information required depends on the type of gift you’re ordering:

For One Share with Stock Certificate:

• Shareholder’s full legal name
• Custodian name (if the shareholder is a minor)
• Mailing address for registration (where shareholder documents will be sent)
• Shipping address for the framed certificate

For Stock Certificate Only:

• Name to appear on the replica certificate
• Shipping address for the certificate or framed display
• No registration details are required since this is a personalized replica and does not represent ownership

All orders also require your contact information, payment details, and any special instructions — such as a surprise date or gift message.

Ordering is easy — just choose the type of stock gift you’d like to give:

• One Share with Stock Certificate: Follow the steps on our How to Buy Stock page to complete your order.
• Stock Certificate Only: Simply select “Stock Certificate Only” when choosing your product, personalize the certificate, and proceed to checkout — no stock purchase or registration required.

Yes. You can place your order by phone, but we recommend ordering online whenever possible.

Ordering online allows you to preview your personalized certificate, check spelling, and see how different frame and mat combinations look before completing your purchase. However, if you prefer to order by phone, our friendly team will be happy to help you.

We accept all major credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

All transactions are subject to fraud screening. For high-risk orders or payments originating from certain countries, we may require payment via Wise or wire transfer instead of a credit card.

The timeline depends on the type of stock gift you choose:

For One Share with Stock Certificate:

• Part 1 – Personalized Replica Certificate: Ships from our Arizona facility within two business days so you have something to gift right away.
• Part 2 – Shareholder Ownership Document: Arrives directly from the company’s transfer agent in 3–7 weeks, once legal registration is complete. This may be either a registered stock certificate or a Direct Registration System (DRS) statement.

For Stock Certificate Only:

• Ships from our Arizona facility within two business days since no stock registration is required.

Shipping times vary depending on the destination and carrier, but tracking information is provided once your order leaves our facility.

Yes. If you choose One Share with Stock Certificate, the recipient becomes a real, registered shareholder of the company.

• Their name is recorded on the officical shareholders list,
• They receive shareholder communications (e.g., annual reports and meeting notices),
• They're entitled to declared dividends,
• They get proxy materials to vote on shareholder matters.

This is what makes the gift unique—it's actual ownership.

Prefer a display-only keepsake? Our Stock Certificate Only option is a personalized replica certificate (no stock is registered). It’s perfect for celebrating shares someone already holds in a brokerage or other investment account.

Yes. When you purchase One Share with Stock Certificate, each order represents one real share of ownership at the price shown on our website.

If you’d like to buy more than one share, you can order multiple one-share gifts, each with its own personalized certificate and frame or keepsake folder (if selected).

For customers who wish to purchase multiple shares under the same name primarily as an investment, we recommend working with a registered stock broker. GiveAshare is designed for gifting ownership, not for investment trading.

Yes. You can purchase One Share with Stock Certificate for a minor, but an adult custodian’s name must be provided when placing the order.

The custodian is typically a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult whose name will also appear on the registered stock. This adult acts on behalf of the minor until the child reaches the legal age of ownership.

Only one minor child and one adult custodian can appear on the stock certificate.

Yes. You can purchase One Share with Stock Certificate for an unborn child.

However, we cannot register the stock until the baby is born and has a name (along with an adult custodian).

When placing your order, enter a placeholder name such as “Baby [Last Name]” in the Shareholder Name field. We’ll prepare and send the 1st Part (the personalized replica stock certificate) with the placeholder name, then hold off on registration until the estimated due date or until the parents provide the baby’s full name after birth.

Yes, non-U.S. citizens can purchase One Share with Stock Certificate and we do ship internationally.

In most cases, you can use a credit card to place your order. However, for certain international transactions, we may require a wire transfer to protect against fraudulent activity.

All One Share with Stock Certificate gifts come framed.

We recommend selecting our low-cost Keepsake Folder — an affordable alternative to our premium frames that still protects the stock certificate and provides a polished look for gifting and safekeeping.

Our prices include the current market price of one share plus all fees associated with legally registering the stock in the recipient’s name.

Each One Share with Stock Certificate gift includes:

• Our $39 service fee*
• $5 for the personalized replica stock certificate
• $3 for the Keepsake Folder frame (optional upgrades available)

The total price may increase depending on the options you select — such as a premium frame, engraved plaque, shareholder book, or gift wrap.

Prices are updated weekly, unless there’s a major move in the stock. Product pages include links to Yahoo! Finance for current market quotes.

Note: Higher-priced stocks may include a fee adjustment to meet SEC requirements.

Both options include a personalized replica stock certificate that ships within two business days for gift giving or display. The difference is in what the shareholder receives later from the company’s transfer agent once registration is complete.

• Replica Certificate Now + Account Statement Later:
  The shareholder’s ownership is registered electronically through the Direct Registration System (DRS). The transfer agent sends a DRS statement by mail, which serves as official proof of ownership.
• Replica Certificate Now + Registered Certificate Later:
  The shareholder receives a real, physical registered stock certificate issued by the company’s transfer agent once processing is complete.

In both cases, the recipient becomes a real, registered shareholder with full shareholder rights. The difference is simply whether ownership is confirmed by a paper registered certificate or an electronic DRS statement.

In rare cases, the transfer agent’s printing or mailing process for registered stock certificates may result in slight creases or minor blemishes.

These small imperfections are normal and do not affect the validity of the certificate or ownership in any way. If your certificate shows significant damage beyond minor creasing or blemishes, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

In the unlikely event that a company stops issuing paper registered stock certificates after your order is placed, we will refund any applicable certificate fee.

The shareholder will instead receive a Direct Registration System (DRS) statement from the company’s transfer agent. This statement includes the shareholder’s account number and serves as official proof of ownership.

Let’s say it’s October and you’re ordering a stock gift for Christmas. To keep it a surprise until December 25th, here’s what to do:

1. Enter your own address as the Shipping Address.
The first part of your order — the personalized stock certificate — ships within two business days to the Shipping Address. Most customers have this sent to themselves so they can present the gift personally.

Note: You’ll also enter a separate Shareholder Address used later for stock registration.

2. Use the “Surprise Date” option at checkout.
Occasionally, the underlying company may send shareholder materials (such as declared dividends, annual reports, or tax forms) to the Shareholder Address as early as 1–2 weeks after your order. To prevent this, you can enter a Surprise Date — for example, 12/25.

• We delay the registration process until that date, ensuring no shareholder mail is sent before you give the gift.
• Note: The recipient does not officially become a shareholder until the stock is registered, and therefore does not begin receiving shareholder rights or benefits until registration is complete.

Have questions or want to confirm your selections will keep the gift a surprise? Contact us — we’re happy to help!

Yes. You can ship your order to an address that is different from the shareholder or recipient’s address.

The Shipping Address is used for the first part of your order — the personalized stock certificate — which most customers have sent to themselves so they can present the gift personally.

The Shareholder Address is used later for stock registration and is where the company’s transfer agent will mail any future shareholder materials, such as DRS statements, annual reports, or declared dividend checks.

This setup makes it easy to keep the gift a surprise or to ensure it’s presented on a special date.

Once your ownership is officially registered, you’re entitled to all the rights, benefits, and perks that come with being a real shareholder.

This may include:

• Annual shareholder reports and company updates
• Declared dividends (if applicable)
• Invitations to shareholder meetings
• Exclusive shareholder perks — for example, Carnival offers cruise discounts and Willamette Valley Vineyards provides wine discounts

All of this makes a GiveAshare gift truly special — an everlasting, educational, and enjoyable experience that connects the recipient to a company they love.

Yes. You can sell your stock at any time — except for shares of Nintendo and LVMH, which cannot be transferred or sold due to company restrictions.

As a registered shareholder, you have full ownership rights and can sell your stock just like any other shareholder. Most people sell their shares through a licensed stock broker, but some transfer agents (the companies that handle shareholder records) also offer direct sale services.

If you’re unsure how to proceed, contact your company’s transfer agent listed on your Direct Registration (DRS) statement for detailed instructions.

Yes. You can transfer your stock to most traditional brokerage accounts.

If you hold an authentic registered stock certificate, you must deposit the physical certificate with your broker. If your ownership is registered electronically, you can initiate an Incoming DRS Transfer with the receiving broker — they can guide you through their specific process.

Note: Some newer or app-based brokers may not currently support DRS transfers. For example, it appears that Robinhood does not offer this capability at this time.

A Transfer Agent is a financial services firm appointed by a company to manage all shareholder administration. This includes:

• Maintaining shareholder records and account information
• Issuing and mailing stock certificates (for companies that still offer them)
• Distributing annual reports and declared dividends
• Processing address changes and lost certificate requests

Your transfer agent may also send you a tax form request — such as a W-9 (U.S.), W-8BEN (non-U.S.), or NR301 (Canada) — to obtain your tax identification number.

Be sure to report any address changes directly to your transfer agent and set up online access to your shareholder account through their website to easily view and manage your holdings.

For your convenience, here’s a list of the transfer agents that handle the stocks we sell.

If you are a non-U.S. shareholder with an account at AST or EQ, you can request a registered stock certificate by mailing a signed written request to the appropriate transfer agent.

Your written request should include:

1. Your name and address as listed on the account
2. Your account number (if known)
3. The company name of the stock for which you’re requesting a certificate
4. Your signature as the account holder

Where to send your request:

• For AST shareholders:
  EQ
  P.O. Box 500
  Newark, NJ 07101


• For EQ shareholders:
  EQ Shareowner Services
  P.O. Box 64854
  St. Paul, MN 55164-0854

Tip: Always include your account number (if available) and verify your mailing address with the transfer agent to avoid processing delays.

No. If you choose Stock Certificate Only, no real stock is purchased or registered.

• The certificate is a personalized replica designed for display or gifting.
• It can reference shares held in a brokerage or other investment account, but does not create new ownership.
• Each replica is printed on high-quality linen paper that gives it an authentic, nostalgic feel — just like traditional stock certificates.

This is what makes the gift special — it’s a beautiful display piece that celebrates ownership you already have, or simply your connection to a favorite company.

Looking for real ownership? Our One Share with Stock Certificate option includes the purchase and registration of one true share in the recipient’s name, along with the same personalized display certificate.

If you already own a share of stock, our Stock Certificate Only option is perfect for you.

This personalized replica certificate looks and feels just like a traditional stock certificate but does not involve registering additional shares.

Each replica is customized with the shareholder’s name and printed on high-quality linen paper that gives it an authentic, nostalgic touch — a beautiful way to showcase stock ownership with timeless style.

Many shareholders choose replica certificates to frame and display stocks held in a brokerage or other investment account — adding a tangible, gift-worthy element to their portfolio.

All of our Stock Certificate Only gifts come framed.

We recommend selecting our low-cost Keepsake Folder — an affordable alternative to our premium frames that still protects the personalized replica stock certificate and provides a polished look for gifting and safekeeping.

The difference comes down to real ownership versus a display-only replica.

When you choose One Share with Stock Certificate, you’re buying real stock ownership. The recipient becomes an official, registered shareholder with their name recorded on the company’s books. They’ll receive both:

• A personalized replica stock certificate (the framed display piece that ships within two business days), and
• A Shareholder Ownership Document — either a registered stock certificate or Direct Registration System (DRS) statement — sent directly from the company’s transfer agent to the shareholder's address once registration is complete.

When you select Stock Certificate Only, no stock is purchased or registered. Instead, you’ll receive a personalized replica certificate printed on high-quality linen paper that looks and feels like the real thing — perfect for those who already own shares or simply want a display-worthy keepsake.