Liquidate your limited company
Apply directly to the court
A director can ask a court to order the company to stop trading and be liquidated (鈥榳ound up鈥�).
This is known as 鈥榗ompulsory liquidation鈥�.
You need to show the court that:
- the company cannot pay its debts of 拢750 or more
- 75% (by value of shares) of shareholders agree that the court can wind up the company
Your company can be based anywhere but must carry out most of its business in England and Wales.
How to apply
Fill in a 鈥榳inding-up petition鈥� (form Comp 1) and send it to the court with:
- form Comp 2 confirming the details of your petition
- the winding-up resolution from the shareholders
Where you send the petition depends on how much 鈥榩aid-up share capital鈥� your company has. You can find this on the .
Your paid-up share capital is 拢120,000 or more
. It鈥檒l go to the High Court.
Your paid-up share capital is under 拢120,000
Find your nearest court that deals with bankruptcy.
if it鈥檚 one of these courts:
- Admiralty and Commercial Court
- Chancery Division
- Companies Court
- High Court (including Bankruptcy Court)
- London Mercantile Court
- Rolls Building
If it was another court you鈥檒l need to submit the petition by post.
Fees
It costs:
- 拢2,600 to submit the petition
- 拢280 for the court hearing
After you apply
You鈥檒l get a date for the hearing if the court accepts your petition.
Before the court hearing, you must:
- give (鈥榮erve鈥�) a copy of the petition to your company - fill in a certificate of service to let the court know you鈥檝e done this
- put an advert in at least 7 days before the hearing
- send a copy of the advert and the certificate of service to the court
The court hearing
You or your solicitor must be at the court hearing. You do not have to give any evidence.
If the court gives a winding-up order, the court will put an official receiver in charge of the liquidation. They鈥檒l start liquidating your company. A copy of the winding-up order will be sent to your company鈥檚 registered office.