Incorporating a company in England and Wales involves various considerations, including understanding the required documentation, obtaining a company registration number, selecting the registered office, appointing directors and issuing shares. In this blog post, we will consider in more detail company incorporation under the law of England and Wales.

What are the company incorporation documents?

Companies are now no longer required to have a memorandum of understanding (which set out the objects of the company) but they still need articles of association.

• Articles of association:

The articles of association establish the internal rules and regulations for the company. The most basic of articles address matters such as the management of the company, the appointment and termination of appointment of the directors, the rights and responsibilities of the directors and shareholders, procedures for meetings (of both shareholders and directors), declaring dividends and transferring shares.

• Form IN01:

Form IN01 is the official application for registering a company in England and Wales. It includes information about the company's directors, shareholders, and registered office address.

What Is a company registration number?

A company registration number, commonly referred to as a CRN, is a unique identifier assigned to each registered company in England and Wales. This numeric code is issued upon successful company registration with Companies House, which is England and Wales’s official registrar of companies. The CRN is a crucial reference for various official documents and transactions.

The company incorporation certificate

Once the company is successfully incorporated, Companies House issues an incorporation certificate. This certificate serves as conclusive evidence of the company's existence as a legal entity. It includes important information, such as:

• The company's name and registered number (CRN).
• The date of incorporation.
• Confirmation that the company is registered under the Companies Act 2006.

The company incorporation certificate is an important document that may be requested (or a copy of it) for various purposes, including opening a bank account, entering into contracts, or demonstrating the company's legal status.

Incorporating a company in England and Wales involves compliance with specific legal requirements and understanding the significance of key documents. By being well-informed about company incorporation documents, obtaining a company registration number, selecting the right registration office, and recognising the importance of the incorporation certificate, you can navigate the process with confidence and ensure your company's legal status in England and Wales.

At George Green LLP, we can arrange to incorporate a company for you, and ensure compliance with these legal requirements. For advice on how to incorporate a company, or generally in relation to any other corporate matter, please call Sarah Ward, Head of our Corporate Team, on 01384 340 596 or e-mail Sarah at sward@georgegreen.co.uk for advice and assistance.