What happens to “dormant” stocks in a company? /u/TheBanishedBard No such thing as stupid questions

In the movie Holes at the end (spoilers) they recover a treasure that includes century old shares in AT&T. Would those shares still be valid into the 21st century? The stock certificates were buried for a hundred years after their owner was robbed, and he was never able to redeem them for dividends.

I wonder what would happen in real life of a stock goes dormant like this? If the company is unable to contact or pay out to the stockholder, what do they do with the money that person is owed? How long would a dormant stock such as those buried stay valid for? Could the Yelnats family claim a fortune in back due dividends and/or sell their OG shares for a metric fuck ton?

In the movie Holes at the end (spoilers) they recover a treasure that includes century old shares in AT&T. Would those shares still be valid into the 21st century? The stock certificates were buried for a hundred years after their owner was robbed, and he was never able to redeem them for dividends.

I wonder what would happen in real life of a stock goes dormant like this? If the company is unable to contact or pay out to the stockholder, what do they do with the money that person is owed? How long would a dormant stock such as those buried stay valid for? Could the Yelnats family claim a fortune in back due dividends and/or sell their OG shares for a metric fuck ton?