Deposit a security into my brokerage account

You can deposit stock or bond certificates from another institution into your E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley brokerage account.

The steps for depositing certificates vary somewhat depending upon whether the registration on the certificate is the same as or different from that on your account. Normally, certificates must be signed by all registered owners in the same manner in which the names are shown on the front of the certificates. Stock and Bond Powers may be used in place of signatures on the certificates.

Note: E*TRADE Securities will not accept any Over the Counter securities (including OTCBB, OTCQX, OTCQB) or companies quoted on the pink sheets for deposit. OTC or pink sheet physical certificates received via mail will be returned to the account holder with a letter of explanation.

Notes:
  • Once you send in certificates and they're booked in your account, they will typically no longer exist in physical form. Instead, the securities will be registered in street name and held in your account.
  • The process of transferring certificates is the same for restricted securities, but we recommend having the restriction removed before the transfer takes place. (It typically takes from three to six weeks to remove restrictions.) To have us remove the restriction after the security is transferred (for a fee), you'd need to call or send a letter authorizing us to do so. See Learn about restricted and control securities for more information.
Select the description that applies to your situation:
Deposit a certificate when the registration is exactly the same as that on my account
When the registrations on your certificate and your account are identical, the process for depositing the security is fairly straightforward.
  1. Sign the certificate on the back exactly as the name appears on the front of the certificate, and appoint E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley as attorney. Please include your account number and/or the primary account holder's social security number on the certificate.
  2. Send your certificate by overnight mail to:
    E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
    Harborside 2
    200 Hudson Street, Suite 501
    Jersey City, NJ 07311
  3. In your records, keep the following information about the certificate in the event that it is lost in the mail:
    • The address you sent it to
    • Certificate ownership
    • Certificate number and issue date
    • Name of the security and the number of shares

  4. Check your account positions to confirm that your security was deposited.
Note:
If you send us a certificate you haven't signed, we will send you a Stock or Bond Power form. When you receive the form, fill in all the required information and sign the form (do not print). Then mail the form to us at the address shown above.

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Deposit a certificate when the registration on the certificate differs from that on my account
The process for depositing a security when registrations differ is generally more involved than when registrations are the same. The paperwork you'll need varies according to the type of registration of the certificate. See the table below for specific instructions.

Generally, a letter of authorization is required when the registered owner of a certificate transfers ownership to someone else. A letter of authorization should describe the action, include the name of the E*TRADE brokerage account owner(s) and the type of account registration (i.e. joint rights of survivorship), and be signed by all registered owners of the E*TRADE brokerage account. Please include your account number and/or the primary account holder social security number on the certificate.

Send your certificate and accompanying materials (as indicated in the following table) by overnight mail to:

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
Harborside 2
200 Hudson Street, Suite 501
Jersey City, NJ 07311

If Your Certificate Is: Do This:
A joint registered certificate for deposit into an individual account Have the certificate signed on the back by both registered owners exactly as the names appear on the front, and send us:
  • The certificate
  • A letter of authorization (signatures must be notarized if the signers are not registered owners of the E*TRADE brokerage account)
An individually registered certificate for deposit into a joint account
  • When the registered owner of the certificate is also a party in the joint account, follow the instructions for when registrations are the same.
  • When the registered owner of the certificate is not a party in the joint account, the certificate should be signed on the back exactly as the name appears on the front, and accompanied by a notarized letter of authorization.
A certificate with a custodial registration When the child comes of age and chooses to deposit the certificate into a brokerage account that s/he owns, send us:
  • The certificate
  • A copy of the former minor's birth certificate
If the former minor deposits the certificate into an account that s/he doesn't own, we will also need a notarized letter of authorization signed by him or her.

(The child is the legal owner of custodial-registered certificates. The custodian can deposit the certificate only into a custodial account for the child, and not into a trust or any other account, even when it is for the benefit of the child.)
A certificate on which your name is registered differently than on your account
  • Sign the certificate on the back exactly as your name appears on the front.
  • Provide us with a notarized one-and-the-same letter. If your name changed because you got married, you can provide a certified copy of your marriage certificate instead.
A certificate registered in the name of a person who has died If the certificate is registered solely in the name of the person who has died, send us:
  • The certificate
  • A certified copy of the death certificate
  • An affidavit of domicile
  • Letters testamentary. These should be dated within 60 days of our receipt of the certificate; otherwise your letter may be subject to rejection by the transfer agent.
If the certificate is registered joint tenancy with right of survivorship and one of the joint owners is deceased, we need the certified copy of the death certificate, signed by the surviving owner, and an affidavit of domicile if the deceased passed away in a state other than the one in which the surviving owner is residing.
A certificate registered in the name of an organization, club, corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship
  • Church or other organization: The certificate must be accompanied by the corporate resolution (if a registered corporation) or by the unincorporated association or legal entity's paperwork.
  • Club: The certificate must be accompanied by a copy of the investment club agreement.
  • Partnership: The certificate must be accompanied by the partnership agreement.
  • Corporation: The certificate should be accompanied by the corporate resolution documenting the authorized agent(s) for the corporation. In addition, the certificate must also be signed by a person other than the person (if any) named on the certificate.
  • Sole proprietorship: The certificate should be accompanied by a notarized certificate of sole proprietorship.


Tip:
In your records, keep the following information about the certificate in the event that it's lost in the mail:
  • The address you sent it to
  • Certificate ownership
  • Certificate number and issue date
  • Name of the security and the number of shares

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