Why check Companies House filings before you order a COGS

23 November 2026

This Advice Centre guide is practical document information, not legal advice, an immigration opinion, a banking decision or a promise of foreign acceptance. Ask the named recipient for its current written checklist before ordering.

Short answer

Checking the live Companies House record before ordering a Certificate of Good Standing can reveal an overdue filing, name change, officer update or strike-off notice that affects the document route. It is a practical quality check, not legal or financial advice. The safe approach is to identify the correct company, document, issue date and recipient requirement before paying for certification or delivery.

Start with the company number

Search the official service using the company number, then compare exact name, type, registered office and status. Similar names and group companies create avoidable mistakes. This check prevents ordering a genuine certificate for the wrong entity.

Review filing history

Look at confirmation statements, accounts and recent submissions. An overdue filing may affect certificate eligibility or recipient confidence. A submission receipt does not necessarily mean the public record has updated, so check the register again when timing matters.

Spot changes affecting the pack

Name, address, director or PSC changes can make old bank documents inconsistent. Strike-off or liquidation information may also change the appropriate next step. The aim is a coherent pack, not a complete legal investigation.

If the register is wrong

Resolve an error or rejected filing through the proper channel. A provider cannot rewrite Companies House. Keep correction evidence and tell the overseas recipient honestly if the document record is changing.

Freshness after a filing

A recipient may want a COGS issued after a filing or change. Roughly 90 days is only a common operational habit; the bank may use another period. An apostille does not make a stale certificate current.

Keep a pre-order record

Save the company link, number, review date, open questions and recipient checklist. This helps an accountant or compliance team understand the order and makes a replacement easier if the recipient needs a newer issue.

Practical checklist

Use the exact registered company name, number and company type.
Review the live Companies House record and recent filing history.
Ask the recipient what the document must prove, how recent it must be and whether it accepts paper or electronic format.
Confirm apostille, translation, embassy and courier requirements before paying.
Keep the order confirmation, issued document and legalisation evidence together.
Index the pack without claiming that a certificate proves ownership, solvency or authority unless it actually does.

Official fees and sources

Check the live GOV.UK guidance on ordering certified copies and certificates from Companies House before ordering. The current working figures for this batch are £22 for a standard Companies House certificate and £65 for a same-day certificate. These are official charges, not an agent’s full service price.

Where legalisation is needed, the live GOV.UK document legalisation guidance lists £45 for a paper apostille, £35 for an e-Apostille, £40 for Next-Day and £100 for Restricted Urgent where the relevant conditions apply. Certification, translation, courier, postage and any later embassy stage can be separate. Do not describe a provider as an FCDO partner unless current official terms expressly support that wording.

Freshness is a recipient rule

There is no universal 90-day legal expiry for every Certificate of Good Standing. About 90 days is a common recipient habit, but a bank, authority or counterparty may specify 30, 60, 180 days or a document issued after a particular filing. An apostille authenticates the relevant signature, seal or status; it does not refresh company information. Check the recipient’s written rule and the live Companies House record before presentation.

Questions to settle before payment

Ask the receiving organisation to confirm the exact document title, the legal entity, the maximum document age and the accepted delivery format. Ask whether it wants an original, a Companies House certified copy, a solicitor-certified copy or an electronic file. If the document will be used outside the UK, ask whether an apostille is enough or whether translation, embassy legalisation or local filing follows. Put the reply in the order file; a short written answer is more useful than an assumption based on a similar transaction.

Also check the practical hand-offs. Who will receive the certificate? Does the bank or authority need the complete pack uploaded in one session? Will it accept a scan for preliminary review and request originals later? Is a courier address different from the registered office? These details affect timing and can prevent a correctly issued document being sent to the wrong place. Keep tracking information and delivery confirmation with the final pack.

Keep the scope clear

A company certificate is one piece of evidence. It should not be described as a guarantee of incorporation history, ownership, financial health, tax compliance, authority to sign or permission to trade unless the document and recipient specifically establish that point. If a reviewer asks a question the certificate cannot answer, add the separate evidence it requests or obtain professional advice. Clear wording protects the client from relying on a document for a purpose it was never designed to meet.

Frequently asked questions

Can I order without checking filings?

You may, but checking first reduces the risk of an unsuitable or delayed document.

Does an overdue filing always prevent a COGS?

The effect depends on the product and current record; check live guidance.

Is a register search legal advice?

No. It is a practical document check.

How long after filing should I wait?

Check when the record updates and ask the recipient about timing.

Can an apostille fix a filing issue?

No. Legalisation does not update the register.

UKCOGS can help coordinate the relevant document route. See the Certificate of Good Standing service, apostille and legalisation information, order page or request a quote. Service prices and delivery times are separate from official fees, and the receiving organisation makes its own decision.

Private agent: UKCOGS is not Companies House or the FCDO. Official fees — CH £22/£65; FCDO paper £45 / e-Apostille £35 — confirm on GOV.UK. Not legal advice.