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How Do I Change My Company Secretary?
You can appoint a new company secretary, resign an existing one, or do both to replace one, either directly with Companies House or through your formation agent's account. Neither is required by law, but if your company does have one, or several, changing them is straightforward either way.
Key Takeaways
- A UK limited company can have multiple secretaries, though having one at all isn't a legal requirement for private companies.
- Appointing a new secretary uses form AP03. Resigning one uses form TM02.
- Filing through your formation agent's account is typically processed within a few working hours, since it's done electronically.
- Since October 2025, filing directly through Companies House WebFiling requires signing in with GOV.UK One Login.
- If you're only looking to remove a secretary without replacing them, our guide to removing a company secretary covers that specifically.
Do I Need a Company Secretary at All?
No, not for a private limited company. Having a secretary stopped being a legal requirement some years ago, though companies are still free to appoint one, or several, if they want the extra administrative support.
How Do I Appoint a New Company Secretary?
File form AP03, "Appointment of secretary," with Companies House. This can be done directly, or through your formation agent's account if your company is set up with one, which is generally quicker.
How Do I Resign an Existing Company Secretary?
File form TM02, "Termination of appointment of secretary," with Companies House. As with appointing one, this can be filed directly or through an account.
What's the Quickest Way to Make Either Change?
If your company is with us, you can make both changes directly through your account, with Companies House updated electronically rather than by paper form. Log in, find the relevant company, and update the secretary's details from there. Changes made this way are typically processed within a few working hours.
If your company wasn't formed with us, you can import it onto our system for free and make the change the same way. If you'd rather file directly with Companies House instead, filing online through WebFiling now requires signing in with GOV.UK One Login, a requirement introduced in October 2025.
FAQs
Do I legally need a company secretary?
No, not for a private limited company. It's optional, and you can appoint more than one if you choose to.
What form do I use to appoint a new company secretary?
Form AP03. Resigning one uses form TM02 instead.
How quickly is a secretary change processed?
Typically within a few working hours if filed electronically through a formation agent's account, or longer if filed directly with Companies House.
Do I need a GOV.UK One Login to file this with Companies House directly?
Yes, since October 2025, filing through WebFiling requires signing in with GOV.UK One Login.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Companies House processes can change, so it's worth checking current guidance on GOV.UK or Companies House before relying on the details above.
