What paperwork does a new limited company need after incorporation?

Corven guide, 7 October 2026

Registering the company at Companies House is only the start. The Companies Act 2006 requires every company to keep its own statutory records, and a company with shares must have share certificates ready within two months of allotting shares.

The register of members

Section 113(1) requires every company to keep a register of its members. For a company with a share capital, section 113(3) requires the register to state the shares held by each member, identifying each share by its number and, where there is more than one class, by its class, and the amount paid or agreed to be treated as paid on them. Under section 113(7), failure to comply without reasonable excuse is an offence by the company and every officer in default.

Share certificates

Section 769(1) requires a company to complete and have ready for delivery the certificates for shares it allots within two months after the allotment, unless the conditions of issue provide otherwise or another exception in section 769(2) applies. Under section 769(3), every officer in default commits an offence.

First board minutes

A newly formed company usually records its first board decisions in minutes, such as the allotment of shares and the issue of certificates, so that its own records match what was filed at Companies House.

This guide is general information about the law of England and Wales. It is not advice on your situation.