Which is exactly the question I asked of the transfer agent, but it seems that if the TA can't get in contact with you over a certain period, they can consider

Which is exactly the question I asked of the transfer agent, but it seems that if the TA can't get in contact with you over a certain period, they can consider the stock "abandoned". Since I actually have the certificate (well, not anymore, I had to send in the original certificate to the state as proof of ownership), getting the stock back is a straightforward process. But until the state relinquishes its claim, the stock certificate literally isn't worth the paper it's printed on. See http://www.stocktransfer.com/index.cfm?action=shareholders.FAQ.transferStock&displayMenu=FAQ&ssl=0#21 http://www.stocktransfer.com/index.cfm?action=shareholders.F...