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August 26, 2026
How do I obtain a copy of my company’s Articles?
Your company’s Articles of Association can usually be downloaded free of charge from the Companies House online register. They may be included in the original incorporation documents or filed separately if the Articles were later amended.
Articles of Association are the written rules governing how a UK limited company is managed. They normally cover matters such as:
Every UK company must have Articles of Association.
Follow these steps:
You do not normally need to be a director, shareholder or authorised representative to access documents on the public register.
Downloading an available document from the Companies House filing history is generally free.
Older documents might not be immediately available online. If this applies, the filing history may provide a Request document option. Companies House may charge a fee to retrieve and add the document to the online record.
Many private companies limited by shares adopt the standard model Articles when they are incorporated.
The incorporation record may simply state that model Articles were adopted rather than containing a complete copy. You can obtain the relevant version from the government’s model Articles of Association collection.
Make sure you select the correct version for your company type, such as:
The version applicable on the company’s incorporation date may be important, particularly if the model Articles have subsequently changed.
Do not assume that the original incorporation document contains the company’s current rules.
Review the filing history for later entries mentioning:
If the Articles were amended, the most recently adopted version should normally be used together with any relevant resolutions.
Yes. If a bank, regulator, foreign authority or professional adviser requires an officially certified document, you can order a certified copy from Companies House.
Search for the company and use the More tab to find the ordering service. Companies House charges a fee, and standard or express dispatch options may be available. Current prices and instructions are listed in the Companies House certified documents guidance.
A PDF downloaded from the public register may be adequate for ordinary reference, but it is not necessarily a certified copy.
If you cannot locate the correct Articles online, check:
Directors should ensure the company keeps an accurate copy of its current constitutional documents.
Yes. Companies House records are generally public, so you can search for another UK-registered company and download any Articles available in its filing history.
However, Companies House does not verify the accuracy of every document submitted to the register.
The easiest way to obtain your UK company’s Articles is to search the company on the Companies House register, open its filing history and download the relevant incorporation or Articles document. Check for subsequent amendments to ensure you are using the latest version. If an official copy is required, you can order a certified document from Companies House.
