Knowing if stock is worthless
We bought 10,000 shares of stock in the late 90's in a "startup" company through a Canadian broker (we are in U.S.) which, as best we can tell, went belly-up. The brokerage gave us the stock certificate a few years ago. It is not traded anywhere. I would like to write it off as worthless stock.
1) My husband thinks another company could have bought them and if so then we'd have shares of the new stock, and doesn't think we should write off.
But if that were true wouldn't we have been contacted? All I turn up through Google is some info on the leaders of the company were involved in some other scam, but no proof that the company is just GONE. How do I prove the stock is worthless?
2) Can I still write this off as it went worthless (by MY understanding) several years ago?
The company name was Sports, Entertainment & Learning Network, Inc, incorporated in the state of Nevada
Thank you!