This slideshare outlines the different company documents you may require for your private limited company or new company formation.

1. LIMITED COMPANY DOCUMENTS
What are the different official company documents?
Which documents do I need?

2. AFTER INCORPORATION
What are the different company documents that I may
require after forming a company?
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Certificate of Incorporation
Memorandum and Articles of Association
Company Register
Share Certificates
Certificate of Good Standing

3. INCORPORATION CERTIFICATE
The Certificate of Incorporation is an official legal document that
proves the company’s existence. Companies House will issue
this to the company after incorporation.
This usually includes the:
 Company name
 Date of incorporation
 Company number
 Type of company (e.g. Ltd)
 Country of registration
Often, companies will display a hard copy of this at their work
premises to portray a professional image to customers and
external parties.
Banks may ask to see this as a valid proof of registration.

4. MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
The Memorandum and Articles of Association are
essential legal documents required at incorporation.
The Memorandum of Association states the first
subscribers’ intention to form the company and
become members.
The Articles of Association govern the company and
usually includes key information such as:
 Directors powers
 Dividend policy
 Details of how meetings will be held
 Share information

5. COMPANY REGISTER
The company register is another legal document you are
required to have after incorporation under the Companies
Act 2006.
It is an important set of records that should be kept at the
company’s registered office and updated on an on-going
basis.
Usually this is kept in a folder binding all company
documents together.
Key statutory registers that are kept include the:
 Register of Members
 Register of Transfers
 Register of Directors
 Register of Secretaries
 Register of Charges
 Register of Minutes

6. SHARE CERTIFICATES
Official share certificates are legal documents that prove
who the owners of the company are, the date that they
became a shareholder and how many shares they own.
They must be issued to shareholders within 2 months of
the shares being registered in the shareholder’s name
under the Companies Act 2006.
It can also be beneficial to have hard copies of these as
they can help in legal disputes.
Ask your formation agent if they can provide share
certificates on Copy-Secure paper. This will improve the
authenticity of your certificate.

7. CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STANDING
This company document is issued by Companies House and
can be obtained directly from them or from your accountants
or formation agent.
It proves that your company:
 Continues to exist
 Has had no action to strike it off the register
 Has no outstanding penalties
 Is up to date
 Is compliant with Companies House
This certificate can also include the company’s registered
office address, shareholders names, directors names,
secretaries names, and issued capital.
The certificate of good standing provides confidence for
banks or clients and helps to show your company is
trustworthy.

8. COMPANY SEAL
Although this is not a company document, you may wish to
obtain a Company Seal to compliment your official
documents.
This is an embossed stamp, imprinted with your company
name which can be affixed to official company documents
such as contracts and certificates.
A company seal is no longer a legal requirement however
you may opt to have one. It has a number of benefits:
 Portrays professionalism
 Guarantees authenticity and improves document security
 Proves your company has authorised the document
 Directors may prefer to use the seal when authorising
overseas business transactions

9. NOTARISATION
In some cases, you may need to have a
legal document notarised.
This means that the document’s validity and
signatures have been confirmed and
officially certified by a notary public.
Notary publics have the legal power to
notarise a document.
If your document is notarised then it has
increased credibility and can assist in legal
cases for example, if the document were to
be challenged in court.

10. W: www.wisteriaformations.co.uk
@: formations@wisteria.co.uk
T: +44 (0)844 893 0808
Twitter: @WisteriaLtd
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