In some cases, spinoffs and special dividends may have different rules than standard distributions when it comes to the ex-dividend date. Typically, you’ll qualify for the dividend if you are the record holder on the record date of the distribution. When an event carries a due bill, the ex-dividend date becomes the record date, and any buys or sells placed before the ex date are automatically tracked. The ex-dividend date is the day your total position is eligible for the event.

In due bill situations when a spinoff or special dividend is greater than 25% of the stock price, the ex-dividend date will typically be after the record date.

You’ll no longer be entitled to a distribution if you sell the stock after the record date, but before the ex-dividend date. In this case, the seller would be obligated to pay any received cash or shares to the buyer. This payout occurs automatically.

With electronic trading, the extra step of the seller owing the buyer money is no longer necessary. The party entitled to the dividend will receive the distribution directly.

This process is called Due bill tracking.

A due bill determines a stock seller's obligation to deliver a pending dividend or another form of payment to the buyer of the stock.

It can also be used in other types of events, such as the issuance of rights and warrants, and stock splits.

The due bill process doesn’t apply in all cases. As a general rule, if the special dividend or spinoff is greater than 25% of the stock price, due bill process applies.

Some foreign stocks and dividends don’t follow the rule and some domestic stocks can be granted an exclusion. This means that there are some cases where distributions are less than 25% of the stock will follow the due bill process.

If a particular security’s due bill process is made available, you can typically learn more by visiting the issuer’s Investor Relations website.