Did you know that National Grid is one of the most widely held shares in the UK? Because of its history (formerly British Gas/Transco), millions of people own shares without realizing it.

If you have found an old National Grid certificate, or think a deceased relative might have owned shares, you need to act before the assets are forfeited. Here is the step-by-step guide to tracing them.

Who manages National Grid shares? You cannot call National Grid directly to ask about your holdings. Their shareholder register is managed by Equiniti. Equiniti is responsible for updating addresses, replacing lost certificates, and issuing dividend cheques.

Step 1: Check your “Paper Trail” Before contacting Equiniti, look for recent correspondence. A dividend cheque or a “Tax Voucher” is proof that the account is still active. If you haven’t received post from them in over 12 months, your account may be marked as “Gone Away,” and your dividends are likely frozen.

Step 2: Use the Equiniti “Shareview” Portal If you have your Shareholder Reference Number (it’s an 11-digit number starting with ‘0’ on your certificates), you can register on the Equiniti Shareview website. This allows you to see your balance online.

Step 3: The Manual Search (If you have no details) If you don’t have the Reference Number, you must contact Equiniti directly.

• Phone: 0371 384 2244
• Post: Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA.

Warning: Call wait times can exceed 40 minutes during tax season.

Step 4: The Faster Way If you are managing an estate or don’t want to spend hours on hold, you can use Divica. Our platform identifies the correct registrar and generates the formal legal letters you need to reclaim the asset immediately.