Online Nomination For Your Demat account - A detailed guide
If you want to trade in the stock market, you need a Demat account. You can open one with any Depository Participant (DP) authorised by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The Demat account allows you to store securities in electronic form. The DP registers the accounts with National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL).
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In a circular released by SEBI in July 2021, Demat account holders must give a choice of nomination. Not complying with the regulations by the deadline (September 30, 2023) can cause the deactivation of your trading and Demat accounts. In that case, you cannot continue stock market trading till you add a nominee to your account.
Who is the nominee?
A nominee refers to an individual who will receive the investments of your account in the case of any unprecedented event. You can nominate your parents, spouse, sibling, children, or others. You can also nominate a minor with the details of their guardian. The authorised person can able to own, handle, and benefit from the account.
You can add a maximum of three nominees to your Demat account. Each nominee will have an assigned percentage in the account. For instance, if you nominate three people, you can assign 35% to one nominee, 40% to the next, and 25% to the third.
Online nomination - Process
Adding a nominee online is a straightforward process. You need to include the names of the nominees in the account opening form you submit to your chosen broker. You can add, change, or delete the information later by giving an Annexure 1A form to your broker. Here are the steps to add a nominee online:
- Login to your Demat account
- Click on the account icon to view personal details
- Enter information like the nominee’s name, date of birth, relationship, allocation percentage, etc. You will need to enter a percentage if you are filling more than one nominee
- After entering all the required details, click ‘Submit’
How to add nominee details in NSDL?
It is also possible to submit an online nomination on NSDL. Here’s what you need to do.
- Login on NSDL’s website with your user credentials
- Under the section for demographics, click on ‘Update personal details’
- Check the radio button for ‘Add/Update nominee details’
- On the next page, update the required information
- Once done, click on ‘Save’
- You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number. Enter it in the required field
- Enter the Aadhaar number or VID and press ‘Verify OTP’
- A modification successful message and an acknowledgement number are sent to you
- Click on Download eSign
- Return to the page for personal details and check the radio button for ‘eSign download’
- Fill out the acknowledgement number and pick your request type
- Press the ‘eSign download.’
Vital points to keep in mind
- Only individuals can appoint nominees
- You cannot add non-individuals like corporate institutions as a nominee
- The form requires the name and address of the nominee and the account holder’s signature
- It is optional to submit nominee ID proof
- A witness’s name and signature are required if the account holder provides a thumb impression
- The guardian’s name and address are required if the nominee is a minor. You must provide the minor’s date of birth as well
- The nominee, guardian, and account holder cannot be the same person
- To delete an existing nominee or choose the “Opt-out” nominee option, the account holder must fill out the same form confirming “I do not wish to make a nomination.”
Conclusion
The online nomination facility enables the smooth transfer of your investments to a person appointed by you. It saves time for your family in case of an unfortunate event and ensures their financial security. A new investor can add a nominee while opening a Demat account. On the other hand, an existing account holder can edit account details to add nominees.