By
August 26, 2026
Where can I find my company’s Articles of Association?
You can usually find your UK company’s Articles of Association on the Companies House public register. They may also be included in your incorporation documents or held by your company-formation agent, solicitor or accountant.
If your company adopted the standard model articles without amendments, Companies House may record that the model articles apply instead of displaying a separate personalised document.
To find your company’s articles:
The incorporation filing may include:
If the company adopted the standard model articles in full, its incorporation record may state that the relevant model articles apply.
The standard text may not appear as a separate bespoke attachment because it is prescribed by law.
Separate versions exist for:
Make sure you use the version that applied to the company’s legal type and incorporation date.
Check the incorporation documents for wording indicating that the company adopted:
If model articles were adopted with amendments, you may need both:
Reading only one document may provide an incomplete picture.
The original articles may no longer be the current version.
Check the company’s complete filing history for documents such as:
The most recent complete set of articles, together with any later constitutional resolutions, should show the current position.
When reviewing the Companies House filing history, look under categories relating to:
The document description may include wording such as:
Download all potentially relevant constitutional filings and arrange them by date.
No. The articles filed at incorporation show the original rules, but they may have been amended or replaced later.
The current constitution could consist of:
Always check the filings made after incorporation.
Yes. The company should retain an up-to-date copy of its constitutional documents.
Check:
The company should keep the current articles readily available for directors and shareholders.
Yes. If the company was registered through a formation agent, the articles may be available through:
The formation pack may also contain the certificate of incorporation, memorandum, share certificates and initial registers.
Yes. A solicitor or accountant may hold a copy if they:
Ask for the latest complete version and details of any later amendments.
Yes. Directors should have access to the company’s constitutional documents because they must act within the powers provided by the constitution.
A director should understand provisions covering:
If the company cannot locate the documents internally, it can retrieve copies from Companies House.
Yes. The articles are generally public documents available through Companies House.
A company member may also request access to relevant constitutional documents from the company.
The articles directly affect shareholder rights, including:
Prospective shareholders should review them before acquiring shares.
Yes. Registered articles are generally available on the Companies House public register.
This applies to:
A shareholders’ agreement is different. It is normally private and is not usually filed with Companies House.
Older filings may be scanned copies and can sometimes be unclear.
Possible solutions include:
Do not rely on an incomplete or unreadable copy when making an important company decision.
Yes. Companies House can provide certified copies of certain documents on the company register.
A certified copy may be useful for:
For routine internal use, an ordinary downloaded copy is usually sufficient.
A registered company will still have articles.
Possible explanations include:
The company should review its incorporation date and complete filing history.
Companies formed under earlier Companies Acts may have adopted a standard set of articles commonly known as Table A.
Different versions of Table A applied at different times.
An older company should identify:
Do not assume that the current model articles apply to an older company.
To identify the current articles:
If the history is complicated, a company solicitor can prepare a consolidated version showing the current provisions.
A consolidated copy brings all current provisions into one complete document.
It may combine:
A consolidated version is easier to use than several separate amendments. However, it must accurately reflect every valid change.
When checking the company’s constitution, also consider obtaining:
These documents can help explain how the current ownership and governance structure developed.
Review them before:
Companies should avoid:
Yes. Documents available on the Companies House public register can generally be viewed and downloaded without charge.
They may be included if the company adopted bespoke or amended articles. If it adopted standard model articles, the record may simply confirm that they apply.
Yes. Articles filed with Companies House are generally public.
Possibly, but check whether they were amended or replaced after incorporation.
No. The memorandum records the original subscribers’ agreement to form the company. The articles contain the continuing rules for its management.
It may use Table A, historic bespoke articles or a combination of older documents and later amendments. Review the complete filing history.
The easiest place to find a UK company’s Articles of Association is the Companies House public register. Search for the company, open its filing history and review the incorporation and later constitutional filings.
Do not assume the original articles remain current. Check for special resolutions, amended articles and complete replacement versions.
The company should keep an up-to-date copy with its internal records and review it before making important decisions involving directors, shareholders or shares.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
