Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice.
Updated June 2026 · England & Wales
When a court or another recognised authority orders a change to your company's constitution, that alteration does not sit quietly in the background. The company has a statutory duty to tell Companies House, and form CC06 is the mechanism for doing so.
This page walks through what the form is for, when it needs to be filed, what must accompany it, and the consequences of missing the deadline. Whether the order affects your articles of association, a constitutional resolution, or the way your share structure operates, the filing obligation sits with the company and its officers personally.
If you have received an order and you are unsure how it interacts with your existing articles or what exactly needs to go on the CC06, a short call with an experienced legal adviser can help you think through your next steps.
What this document is
Form CC06 is the Companies House filing used when a company's constitution has been altered by an order of a court or another competent authority, rather than by the company's own shareholder resolution. The form acts as formal notice to the registrar that the constitution no longer reads as previously recorded, and it ensures the public register stays aligned with the company's current legal position.
An 'authority' here can mean a court handing down an order, but it may also cover directions from a regulator or government body that has power to alter company constitutions. The form itself is short, but it must be accompanied by supporting documents, typically a copy of the order and, where relevant, an updated version of the articles or the resolution that has been amended.
Until Companies House receives and processes the notice, the public record will remain out of date, which can cause confusion for anyone carrying out due diligence on the company. Filing is a statutory duty under section 35 of the Companies Act 2006, and failure to file is a criminal offence for the company and its officers in default.
How to use this document
Check the scope of the order. Read the order carefully to work out exactly which parts of the constitution are affected. This might be specific articles, a constitutional resolution, or provisions touching share capital or members' rights. Knowing the scope determines what you attach to the CC06.
Gather the supporting documents. You will need a certified or true copy of the court order or authority's instruction. If the order amends your articles or a resolution caught by Chapter 3 of Part 3 of the Companies Act 2006, you also need to include the amended version of those documents so the registrar can see the constitution as it now reads.
Complete form CC06. Enter the company name and registration number, describe the nature of the order or authority, and give the date the alteration took effect. The form is signed by a director, secretary, or other authorised person on behalf of the company. Check the details match your other Companies House records.
File within the statutory window. The notice, together with the supporting documents, must reach Companies House no later than 15 days after the alteration takes effect. Filing by post is common for CC06 because of the accompanying documents. Build in time for delivery and keep proof of posting.
Confirm the register has been updated. After filing, check the company's public record on the Companies House service to confirm the order and any amended articles or resolutions have been registered. If anything is missing or looks wrong, raise it with Companies House promptly so the record reflects the true position.
Q What counts as a change of constitution by a court or other authority?
This covers situations where the company's rules or structure are altered by an external decision rather than by the members themselves. A court order following litigation is the most common example, but regulators and certain government bodies can also issue directions that alter a company's constitution. If the change originates outside a members' resolution, CC06 is usually the right filing route.
Q How long does the company have to file form CC06?
Section 35 of the Companies Act 2006 requires the notice to reach Companies House within 15 days of the alteration taking effect. Miss that window and the company and every officer in default commits a criminal offence. If delivery might be tight, it is sensible to prepare the CC06 and supporting documents as soon as the order is received.
Q What documents need to go with the CC06?
At a minimum, a copy of the order or authority's instruction. If the order changes the articles of association, you also attach a copy of the articles as amended. If it changes a resolution or agreement falling within Chapter 3 of Part 3 of the Companies Act 2006, you attach that resolution or agreement as amended so the registrar has the current wording.
Q What happens if the company fails to file on time?
The company and every officer in default commits an offence under section 35. Conviction can lead to a fine, and directors can find themselves personally liable. Beyond the criminal risk, the public register will continue to show out-of-date information, which can cause problems for financing, contracts, or due diligence. Check gov.uk for the current penalty levels.
Q Is CC06 the same as a change made by a members' resolution?
No. Constitutional changes made by the members themselves, for example by special resolution altering the articles, are filed using different routes such as filing the resolution and the amended articles. CC06 is specifically for externally ordered changes, where the driving decision came from a court or another authority rather than from within the company.
Q Does the change take effect only when Companies House is notified?
The order itself takes effect according to its own terms, but the public record will not reflect the altered constitution until the CC06 is filed and processed. Third parties dealing with the company may continue to rely on the previously filed articles until the register is updated, so prompt filing protects both the company and those who deal with it.
Q Can a director sign the CC06 personally?
Yes. A director, secretary, or other person authorised by the company can sign the form on the company's behalf. Whoever signs is confirming that the information given is correct, so it is worth cross-checking the details against the order and the company's existing Companies House records before the form goes off.
A court-ordered constitution change can touch your articles, your share structure, or key members' rights, and the 15-day filing window leaves little room to work it out on your own. An experienced legal adviser can help you think through what the order means in practice and how to approach the CC06 filing, based on what you describe on the call.
✓A plain-English walk-through of what the order appears to change, based on what you describe
✓Practical perspective on what to attach to form CC06 in your situation
✓Clarity on the 15-day deadline and what to watch out for
✓Answers to your specific questions about notifying Companies House
Personal call · For information only · Independent advisers
Written & reviewed by
Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)
Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice. LegalDocuments.co.uk is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice.
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.
