Ordering a Certificate of Good Standing after a company name change

Published 11 September 2026 · Last updated 30 October 2026 · Official fees checked on GOV.UK 4 October 2026 · Name-change rules checked 30 October 2026 (Companies House, FCDO)

After a UK company name change, order a Certificate of Good Standing against the company number and the current registered name. Keep the Certificate of Incorporation and name-change evidence for recipients that still want the history trail.

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

Order the Certificate of Good Standing using the company number so Companies House issues it for the right entity under the live name. Do not rely on an old certificate that still shows the former name. If a bank, free zone or counterparty needs proof of the former name, supply separate formation and name-change documents rather than asking the COGS to rewrite history.

Why name changes confuse document packs

A name change updates the public register but does not wipe earlier filings, contracts or bank files that still quote the old name. Reviewers often see a mismatch between a recent certificate and older paperwork. A current Certificate of Good Standing is a registered-status snapshot at issue. It is not a narrative history of every previous name, and it is not a substitute for the Certificate of Incorporation that recorded formation under the original name.

Start with the company number

Always confirm the company number on Companies House before you order. Names can be similar across the register; numbers are unique. After a name change, the number is the reliable link between:

• the current COGS
• the original incorporation certificate
• the name-change filing or certificate of incorporation on change of name
• any certified copies you may need for articles, officers or other filings

If an overseas clerk searches only by the old name, they may miss the live record. Put the number on the cover note and in the file name for every document you send.

What to order after the change has appeared

Once the new name is live on the register, a standard route for many banking and commercial checks is:

1. A fresh Certificate of Good Standing under the current name
2. The Certificate of Incorporation (historical formation evidence)
3. Evidence of the name change (commonly the Companies House certificate of incorporation on change of name, or the relevant filing)
4. Any extra certified copies the checklist names, such as articles or a recent confirmation statement

Where the recipient wants several certified items together, a company documents pack is often cleaner than ordering pieces one by one and hoping the issue dates still align.

Check filings before you pay

Name changes often sit next to other updates: registered office, officers, PSC details or filing catch-up. Review the live filing history and status before you order. If accounts or a confirmation statement are overdue, some recipients will reject a pack even when the name on the COGS is correct. See also our guide on checking filings before ordering a COGS.

If a name-change filing has been submitted but is not yet visible, wait for the live update rather than ordering against an outdated public view. A certificate issued before the change appears will still show the old name and can force a reorder.

Old certificates and “recent” rules

Do not present an old COGS that still shows the former name and expect a reviewer to treat it as current. Freshness is a recipient rule. Many banks and free zones use about 30, 60 or 90 days as a working habit, but the written checklist controls. An apostille authenticates a signature, seal or status on that document; it does not refresh the company name or filing position.

If you already hold an apostilled COGS under the old name, ask whether the recipient needs:

• a new COGS only
• a new COGS plus fresh legalisation
• the old pack kept for history, clearly labelled superseded

Use the document freshness helper to measure certificate age against a 30, 60 or 90-day window before you reorder.

What a COGS still does not prove after a rename

Even under the new name, a Certificate of Good Standing does not automatically prove:

• ownership or PSC detail
• solvency or tax compliance
• authority to sign contracts
• that every overseas licence or bank mandate has been updated
• that counterparties have accepted the new trading style

If the checklist asks for authority, ownership or articles, add those documents separately. ## Soft pack for banks and counsel

A practical cover note after a name change usually includes:

• current legal name and company number
• former name and effective date of change
• which document proves formation, which proves the rename, and which proves current standing
• whether each item is original, certified copy, scan or legalised
• the recipient’s written freshness and format rule

Label current and historical files so a clerk can see the trail without guessing. Never edit an official certificate to insert a new name.

Official Companies House fees

Check the live GOV.UK Companies House fees table before ordering. Working published figures commonly cited for this Advice Centre are £22 for a standard Companies House certificate and £65 for a same-day certificate. Certified copies of filed documents have their own published lines on the same fees guidance. These are official charges, not an agent’s full service price.

Order through UKCOGS when you want the current COGS, incorporation evidence or a documents pack handled together. ## Apostille and overseas use (quote only)

If the renamed company’s pack will be used abroad, the recipient may still ask for apostille or further legalisation. That is a separate route from Companies House issue. UKCOGS can quote apostille and embassy stages when needed; do not treat legalisation as a buy-now SKU until you have confirmed the destination checklist. An apostille does not by itself update bank mandates that still show the old name.

When does the new name take effect?

Under s.81, a change of name has effect from the date Companies House issues the new certificate of incorporation, not from the date of the board meeting or resolution. Under s.80, the registrar enters the new name on the register and issues a certificate of incorporation altered to show it. Until that happens, any Certificate of Good Standing will still be issued under the old name. Sources: Companies Act 2006 s.77, s.80 and s.81 on legislation.gov.uk (checked 30 October 2026).

Section 81 also says the change does not affect the company's rights or obligations, and legal proceedings can continue under the new name. That is why the company number, not the name, is the thread that links old contracts, bank files and new certificates.

Name change and certificate timeline

What to send, by who is asking

• A bank refreshing its customer file: a fresh Certificate of Good Standing under the new name, plus the certificate of incorporation on change of name so the reviewer can link it to the account opened under the old name.
• An overseas registry, free zone or notary: the same two documents, and ask early whether each must be apostilled. If they do, every document in the chain must show the right name, so order the COGS only after the change is registered.
• A buyer, investor or supplier doing due diligence: the fresh COGS is usually enough for current status. Add the original Certificate of Incorporation if they want to see the full history from formation.

We order Companies House documents only. We cannot pass a resolution, file the name change or advise whether a name is available, and this guide is not legal advice. Use our free Companies House filings checker to confirm the new name is showing before you pay for anything.

Practical checklist

• Confirm company number and wait until the new name is live on Companies House
• Order a fresh COGS under the current name, not a reuse of the old-name certificate
• Keep incorporation and name-change evidence for history checks
• Review overdue filings and recent officer or address changes before payment
• Ask the recipient for written freshness, format and legalisation rules
• Index the pack so current standing and historical names are obvious

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a COGS that still shows the old company name?

Usually no for a current-status check. Recipients expect the live registered name on a recent certificate. Keep the old document only as labelled history if needed.

Does a name-change filing replace a Certificate of Good Standing?

No. The name-change evidence explains the rename. A COGS reports registered standing at a later issue date.

Should I order under the old name or the new name?

Order against the company number after the new name is live. The certificate should reflect the current registered name.

Do I need both incorporation and COGS after a rename?

Often yes. Incorporation shows formation history; a recent COGS shows current standing under the live name. Ask the recipient if both are on the checklist.

What if the bank file still uses the old name?

Send the current COGS, company number, and clear name-change evidence. Ask the bank how it wants mandates and account titles updated; that is separate from the certificate itself.

Where do I check official fees?

Use the live GOV.UK Companies House fees and certified copies guidance, and re-check before you pay.

When does a company name change take legal effect?

Under Companies Act 2006 s.81, the new name has effect from the date Companies House issues the new certificate of incorporation, not from the date of the resolution (legislation.gov.uk, checked 30 October 2026).

Does changing the company name change the company number?

No. The company number stays the same, and s.81 says the change does not affect the company's rights or obligations. Use the number to link the new certificate to older documents.

How much does Companies House charge to change a company name?

GOV.UK lists £20 online or by software, £30 on paper, and £85 for the same-day change of name service (checked 30 October 2026). These are Companies House fees for the filing, separate from any certificate order.

I ordered a COGS just before the name change was registered. Do I need a new one?

Usually yes, if the recipient needs the current name. A certificate issued before the change is registered shows the old name, so most reviewers will ask for a fresh one.

What is a certificate of incorporation on change of name?

It is the certificate Companies House issues when it registers a new name, under s.80 of the Companies Act 2006. It shows the company number with the new name and is the usual evidence linking the old and new names.

For a current Certificate of Good Standing, incorporation certificate or multi-document pack matched to a recipient checklist, start from the order page or the UK Certificate of Good Standing service page. Confirm acceptance with the receiving organisation before work begins.