CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

Certificate of Incorporation (CoI) is a legal document provided by the UK Government Agency Companies House. The CI shows that you have formed and registered your company with Companies House. It is essentially a ‘birth certificate’ for your company.

The certificate provides verification of the name of your company, its registered number and the date it was incorporated. It also shows the type of company you have set up and the location of your registered office. If your company has changed its name, a Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name is issued to reflect this.

A CI is usually required for opening a business bank account- in the UK or abroad, and for any expansion or work of your business that you wish to conduct in a foreign country. Many foreign countries require the CI as evidence of the formation and registration of your UK based company.

For any document that is to be used in a different country to where it is issued, it is usual for the country of use to require the document to be verified by a Notary Public.

The Notary can obtain a copy of the CI (and change of name certificate) from Companies House and attached a notarial certificate to it in order verify its authenticity.

Additionally, if the CI is intended for use in a non-English speaking country, a translation of the certificate may need to accompany it for use. I can assist with obtaining translations of documents where needed.

After the CI is notarised, it may also need an Apostille, depending on whether its destination country is signed up to the Hague Apostille Convention. The Apostille will allow the foreign country to accept the CI as a validly signed document. I am able to arrange the Apostille for a CI when necessary after notarisation.

Some countries also require further legalisation at their Embassy in the UK.

If you need a Notary Public to notarise and apostille a Certificate of Incorporation, please do not hesitate to get in touch and I can provide a no-obligation quote for your consideration. I can deal with this without the need for a face to face appointment so can assist wherever you are located.

Please contact me on 01244 470339 or at sara@notarychester.co.uk.