Ian Bryzek, CPA
What records are needed for options or equity awards after death?
Options, RSUs, and similar awards often have separate plan portals, expiration clocks, and tax withholding histories.
Download plan statements and employer letters quickly; portal access can disappear.
Legal rights under the plan are distinct from tax reporting of later exercises or releases.
What to keep with the file
Legal rights under the plan are distinct from tax reporting of later exercises or releases.
What to do next
Export the equity-award portal history before credentials lapse.
What to gather
- Plan statements at death
- Award agreements
- Employer or plan administrator letters
- Exercise or release confirms
- Withholding and 1099/W-2 style forms if issued
Who usually handles what
- Ian can organize the tax reporting question and the supporting records.
- An estate attorney handles title, authority, trust interpretation, and beneficiary rights.
A practical next step
Export the equity-award portal history before credentials lapse.
Questions about title, probate authority, trust meaning, or a beneficiary's legal rights belong with an estate attorney. Start with the Professionals directory: /professionals/
Related guides
This is general tax information, not tax or legal advice. Outcomes depend on the documents, ownership, timing, and law that apply to the particular facts.