The Difference between the Certificate of Incorporation and Certificate of Good Stand

[humaxe5]

Hello!

I've called Companies House recently. I ordered the Certificate of Incorporation and the Certificate of Good Standing as well.

I wanted to include such additional details on the Certificate of Good Standing as:
1) Directors names
and extra information about Directors:
-Service address
- Date of birth
- Date of appointed
- Nationality
2) the situation of the Registered office
3) the issued Capital
4) Shareholders names and Shareholdings (number of shares each shareholder owns)
5) Company objects (principal business activities)

The operator told me that all this information may be included inti the Certificate of Incorporation as well.

Could you please explain to me the exact difference between the Certificate of Good Standing and the Certificate of Incorporation?...

 

[JamesCartwright]

At a very basic level - Certificate of Incorporation shows evidence of the company formation, Certificate of Good Standing evidences that company has been continuous (in 'good standing') since its incorporation - i.e. no petition to be struck off etc.

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/faq/certOfGoodStanding.shtml

 

[mahutchinson]

I think what they are talking about is a replacement certificate of incorporation for when the orignal has been lost, which is a bit different. The original could simply be downloaded for £1 if lost.

 

[humaxe5]

It's interesting what you write. I decided to try that and ordered both Certificates in order to learn the difference between them. I told the operator of Companies House to send me the Certificate of Good Standing and the Certificate of Incorporation.

Yesterday I got them. They look absolutely the same. :|
So what's the difference?..

 

[mahutchinson]

They shouldn't look the same unless they've made a mistake (not unusual). Certificate of good standing lists a number of items of information including directors, shareholders, registered office, confirmation of good standing of the company (depending on what has been asked for). Certificate of incorporation merely confirms that the company was incorporated on a particular date and includes the company number.

 

[humaxe5]

O.K. I got it. In the Certificate of Incorporation one may see only the Company's name and the Date of Incororation.

And on the Certificate of Good Standing one may include additional information.

The only thing I cannot make clear is why ordering the Certificate of Incorporation in Company's House, they send me a Certificate of Good Standing? I've paid 20 pounds for that. Do you happen to know whether I may claim for replacement so as they send me the right Certficate?..