Companies House documents play a crucial role in verifying the legal identity, structure, and compliance status of UK-registered companies. While these documents are fully accepted within the UK, they often require additional legalisation, such as notarisation or an apostille certificate, when presented abroad.
Whether you're expanding your business internationally, establishing a foreign branch, engaging in cross-border transactions, or complying with overseas legal requirements, understanding the importance of notarising Companies House documents is essential. This guide outlines what these documents are, when and why notarisation or apostille may be required, which documents are commonly involved, and how Legitify can help you manage the entire process online with speed and compliance.
What Are Companies House Documents?
Companies House is the UK government’s official registrar of companies. It maintains a public record of all limited companies, partnerships, and other business entities registered in the UK. The documents issued or held by Companies House serve as legal proof of a company’s existence, structure, governance, and compliance history.
Common Companies House documents include:
- Certificate of Incorporation – Official evidence that a company has been legally formed and registered with Companies House.
- Memorandum and Articles of Association – Foundational documents detailing how a company is structured and governed.
- Confirmation Statement – A mandatory filing that outlines key information about the company’s structure, shareholders, and people with significant control.
- Annual Accounts – Financial statements filed annually, showing the financial health and activity of the business.
- Certificate of Good Standing – Confirms that a company is active and has met all its statutory filing obligations.
- Change of Name Certificate – Verifies that a company has officially changed its name.
- Board Resolutions and Powers of Attorney – Internal corporate documents authorising specific business actions or representatives.
These documents are commonly requested in various business scenarios, from opening bank accounts to demonstrating corporate legitimacy in legal and financial transactions.
Why and When Is Notarisation or Apostille Required?
While Companies House documents are legally valid within the UK, they may not be automatically recognised by foreign authorities. In international business settings, these documents often need to be notarised and apostilled to meet the legal requirements of the receiving country.
- Notarisation: A notary public verifies the authenticity of a document or certifies that a copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original. This process helps foreign institutions trust that the documents are legitimate and unaltered.
- Apostille: An apostille certificate, issued under the Hague Apostille Convention, legalises the notary’s signature and confirms that the document can be officially recognised abroad, without the need for further embassy or consular legalisation in participating countries.
Scenarios where notarisation and apostille are commonly required:
- Opening a corporate bank account overseas
- Registering a UK business or subsidiary in another jurisdiction
- Participating in cross-border mergers, acquisitions, or joint ventures
- Engaging in international real estate or investment transactions
- Undergoing KYC (Know Your Customer) or AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks
- Submitting company documents to courts or public bodies outside the UK
In most cross-border use cases, both notarisation and apostille are required to ensure that the documents meet international legal standards.
How Legitify Simplifies the Process
Traditionally, legalising Companies House documents for international use has been a manual, time consuming process. Legitify eliminates the hassle by offering a secure, online notarisation solution tailored for business needs.
- Online Notarisation: With Legitify, you can notarise your Companies House documents completely online. Simply upload your documents and connect with a licensed notary through a secure video call.
- Apostille Support: Apostille certification can be requested directly through the platform, simplifying coordination and reducing turnaround time. Legitify manages the process on your behalf to ensure your notarised documents are properly legalised and ready for international use.
- Tailored for Business: Built for business, Legitify streamlines the notarisation of critical corporate documents. Our platform supports complex, time-sensitive requirements while ensuring full compliance with legal standards.
- Fast Turnaround: Our remote workflow allows you to complete the entire notarisation and apostille process from your desk. This means less paperwork, no travel, and faster results, ideal for businesses on tight timelines or operating across jurisdictions.
Get Started
International business often requires more than just official documents, it demands proof that those documents are authentic and recognised across borders. Legitify enables you to meet these requirements with a streamlined, fully online process.
Our platform helps you notarise and apostille Companies House documents efficiently and in full compliance with international standards.
Visit www.legitify.eu to start notarising online today.
.jpg)
.jpg)
