Misplaced your company’s memorandum or articles of association ? You’re not alone – and thankfully, it’s quick and easy to replace them.
Whether you need them for a bank application, a shareholder query, or simply to keep your company records complete, you can download copies from Companies House in minutes. And if you received your memorandum and articles of association through Rapid Formations, you can also retrieve them instantly through your Online Client Portal.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to locate your documents, explain what they contain, and highlight when you might need to access them.
Before we dive into what these documents mean, let’s get straight to the part that matters: how to find them. You can recover your memorandum and articles in two ways:
When you form a company with Rapid Formations, we store your incorporation documents securely and permanently in your account – for free. That means you’ll never lose them, even if you’ve changed computers or deleted your emails.
You can retrieve your memorandum and articles of association using one of the two methods below.
The quickest way to locate your memorandum and articles is to check your email inbox for the message we sent on the day your company was incorporated. Look for an email from [email protected] with the subject line ‘Rapid Formations: Order Ref X [unique reference number] Order Fulfilment’.
That email includes:
You can download or print these PDFs directly from the email.
If you can’t find the email, you can log in to your Online Client Portal, where all your documents are stored.
Follow these simple steps:
Your documents will appear instantly as PDFs, ready to save, print, or email to whoever needs them. Bear in mind, however, that the Rapid Formations portal will only contain the original version if you’ve amended your company’s articles of association since incorporation. For the updated articles, you’ll need to download them from Companies House (explained below).
Companies House holds incorporation records for every active UK company. If you formed your company directly with Companies House, or if you’ve since changed your articles, you can download your documents from the official register. This process is free and only takes a few minutes.
This PDF will include your:
If your filing history says ‘Model articles adopted’, that means you used the default government template. You can download a generic copy of the model articles directly from the Companies House website. But remember, the model articles are standard templates: they won’t include your company name or number.
If you’ve made any changes to your company’s articles (for example, to create new share classes or adjust director powers), the most recent version will appear as a separate filing.
Save both for your records, and consider printing copies for easy access.
Every limited company is built on two key documents:
Your memorandum and articles of association form the legal backbone of your company and are collectively known as your company constitution. Understanding what these documents do and where to find them helps directors, shareholders, and advisers make informed decisions.
You might be asked to present your memorandum or articles of association in situations such as:
Even though these documents don’t change often, they’re vital reference points for company operations and legal compliance.
Your memorandum and articles of association often come into play at key moments in your company’s life. A bank might ask to see them when you open an account or apply for finance; advisers such as solicitors and accountants review them during due diligence checks; and investors or potential buyers rely on them to understand how your company is structured. Even auditors or HMRC may occasionally request copies to verify compliance. When these situations arise, having the documents neatly organised means you can respond at once and present your business as transparent and well-run.
The memorandum of association is a brief yet important document that is automatically created when a company is incorporated. It confirms that the original shareholders (or guarantors) – known as subscribers – agreed to form the company under the Companies Act 2006.
It is issued in a prescribed form under the Companies (Registration) Regulations 2008 and includes:
Each subscriber signs or digitally authenticates the document. Once Companies House accepts the incorporation, the memorandum becomes a historic record that cannot be changed.
In short, the memorandum provides a snapshot of your company at the moment it was created. Except for an automatic update to reflect a formal name change, the information within it remains fixed for the life of the company.
The articles of association are the company’s internal rulebook. They set out how the company will be run, how decisions are made, and the rights and responsibilities of directors and shareholders.
Typical provisions include:
Together, these rules serve as a contract between the company and its members, as well as between each member and every other member. This means the articles have a binding legal effect, ensuring that everyone involved in the company is treated fairly and operates within an agreed framework.
Most companies adopt the government-issued Model Articles of Association, which are suitable for the majority of small private companies. However, some businesses choose to amend the model version or create bespoke articles to reflect their specific requirements, for example, by:
If you have replaced or amended your company’s articles since incorporation, ensure that the most recent version has been properly filed with Companies House and saved in your internal records.
Yes. To change your articles of association in the UK, you’ll need to pass a special resolution and file a copy of both the resolution and the new articles with Companies House.
Companies usually update their articles of association to keep them aligned with how the business actually operates. Common reasons include:
Whatever the motivation, any change to the articles must be properly approved and filed with Companies House to take legal effect. You can always view the latest version through the Companies House filing history using the steps described earlier.
Your company’s constitutional documents should always be easy to locate. Here are some simple practices that make life easier for directors and shareholders:
Quick access to your constitutional documents keeps your business running smoothly. It allows you to prove your company’s status, satisfy checks from banks or regulators, and make administrative changes (such as appointing directors or updating share structures) without delay. Just as importantly, it helps everyone involved stay aligned with the rules that govern how the company operates. Misplacing paperwork is rarely serious, but maintaining clear, up-to-date copies demonstrates professionalism and saves time when those inevitable requests arrive.
Clear, well-kept company records make business life smoother. Your memorandum and articles of association underpin everything your company does, from share issues to director decisions.
Whether you’ve lost your memorandum or articles of association, or are registering a new company, Rapid Formations gives you instant access to every essential document – including your certificate of incorporation, share certificates, and more – via our secure Online Client Portal.
You should consider updating them through a shareholder special resolution. This ensures your company’s internal rules align with your actual practices, reducing the risk of disputes or non-compliance.
Not entirely. While articles set binding company rules, a shareholders’ agreement can cover confidential or commercial terms not suitable for public filing. Many companies use both for full coverage.
Often, yes. Banks frequently request these documents to verify your company’s structure, directorship, and legal authority. It’s best to have digital and printed copies ready to speed up the account-opening process.
Yes, scanned or PDF versions are generally acceptable for most administrative and legal purposes, but always check requirements if submitting them to courts or regulatory bodies.