<human>: First off, one of my larger problems here is likely to be a failure to use the exact right terms in google too.  So, i could use some help on terminology as well.

Before my dad passed away, he had a rather large amount of stock in a natural gas company.  He talked about it relatively often and, I have personally seen evidence of it before while he was alive so, i know it's there.  The problem is that it's been almost two years since he passed away and, we still haven't found where he kept his financial paperwork.  We have no idea if the stock was handled by any kind of firm or, know anything about it beyond that we're 99% sure it's there somewhere.

I do know that the stock would go to me as I am the sole beneficiary and the executor of the estate and, a lot of other titles.  However, i have no clue how to actually claim the stock or recover any concrete details on it.  I'm just not sure how to start the process myself.  I've tried calling the company but, it's a rather large company and, the customer facing lines i reached had absolutely no clue how to even approach the situation.  I'm not even sure if it's typical for companies to keep records of who holds stock with them or, how to get past the privacy concerns if they do.  He also owned a portion of an oil well that is in about the same situation and, likely other things that would be a surprise for me.

Provide a brief overview of the text.
<bot>: Father passed away, I am sole beneficiary, I know that stocks exist and who they are with but, have no paperwork or proof, ideas on how to start the process of claiming them?