Forgotten Shares, Dividends and Insurance: Australia’s Hidden $3.8 Billion
💡 Most people who find forgotten shares or dividends in the ASIC database had no idea they were owed — they found out only because they searched.
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I’ve already found assets in the database — I need to know which documents to prepare and what happens next:
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Why Shares, Dividends and Insurance Go Unclaimed
Share holdings and dividends become unclaimed for a different reason than bank accounts. A share registry transfers holdings to ASIC after just three years of no contact with the shareholder — shorter than the seven-year threshold for bank accounts. Shareholders who moved house, changed surnames after marriage, or simply stopped opening mail from a company they had forgotten they held shares in can find years of unclaimed dividends and the share holding itself sitting in the government register. Insurance proceeds follow a similar path when an insurer cannot locate a beneficiary after a policy matures or the insured person dies.
Who Is Most Likely to Have Forgotten Investment Assets
Australians who participated in the major privatisations of the 1990s — Telstra, Commonwealth Bank, AMP — often received shares and then lost track of them over decades. People who changed surnames through marriage or divorce, moved interstate repeatedly, or worked for employers that offered share schemes are also disproportionately represented in the ASIC register. Deceased estates are another major source: executors searching the database for a parent or spouse frequently find share holdings and insurance proceeds that were never discussed or documented.
How to Check the ASIC Database in 2 Minutes — For Free
Go to the ASIC MoneySmart website and search your full name — including any maiden names, previous surnames, or nicknames. No login, no fee, no registration. The database covers bank accounts, share holdings, dividends and insurance proceeds in a single search. The full step-by-step guide for investment asset searches is here →
What types of investment assets does the ASIC database cover? ▼
The ASIC MoneySmart register holds unclaimed bank account balances, term deposits, share holdings, unpaid dividends, and life insurance proceeds. State revenue offices hold separate registries for wages, trust monies and land sale proceeds. See the full breakdown of what appears in each search →
Can forgotten shares be worth searching for if the company no longer exists? ▼
Yes. If the shares were validly held and the company was deregistered or acquired — rather than simply going bankrupt — the value of the holding at transfer may still be in the register under your name. Share registries lodge records based on the shareholder’s details, not the company’s ongoing status. Learn how company history affects your search →
I found shares or dividends in my name — what documents do I need to claim? ▼
For a straightforward personal claim: current photo ID and proof of a previous address matching the account record. If the shares were in a maiden name, a marriage certificate helps. Deceased estate claims require the death certificate and grant of probate or letters of administration. See the complete documents checklist for each asset type →
Are lost superannuation accounts part of the same ASIC database? ▼
No. Lost super is held by the ATO, not ASIC, and requires a completely separate search through myGov. The two databases do not overlap. Learn how to find every super account linked to your TFN →
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Always verify information directly with ASIC, the ATO, or a qualified financial adviser before taking action.