Dissolved company

Dissolution is the end of a company’s life. Once a company is dissolved, it is struck off the Companies House register and ceases to exist in law: it cannot trade, enter contracts, sue or be sued. Any assets it still owned at the moment of dissolution pass to the Crown as bona vacantia (“ownerless goods”).

A company can be dissolved voluntarily — the directors apply to strike it off because it is no longer needed — or compulsorily, often because it failed to file its accounts or confirmation statements and Companies House began strike-off action. The register shows the dissolution date and keeps the historical record available for years afterwards.

A dissolved company can sometimes be restored to the register, either administratively or by court order, for example if it is discovered to have owned an asset or if a creditor needs it to exist to pursue a claim. Restoration reverses the dissolution as though it had not happened.

Example

If a supplier finds that a debtor company was dissolved before an invoice was paid, the debt is generally lost unless the company can be restored — which is why checking status before extending credit matters.

On Company Shark

Searches default to active companies so dissolved entities don’t clutter prospect lists, but dissolved records remain viewable and are clearly flagged, so you can research a company’s full history.

Related

• Company status
• Dormant company
• Companies House
• Guide: Company status explained (Active, Dissolved & more)