A statutory demand against a company is served by leaving it at the company's registered office, under section 123(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986. If the debt is not paid, secured or compounded within three weeks, the creditor may rely on the unpaid demand as evidence that the company is unable to pay its debts when presenting a winding-up petition.
We aim to attempt service within 24–48 hours of receiving instructions, attending during normal working hours, Monday to Friday. We return a certificate of service for a statutory demand on a company, verified by a statement of truth, recording the attendance and how the demand was left.
For the registered-office route under section 123(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986, the demand is left at the company's registered office. We check the current Companies House entry before attending and record the address used. Serving a company is distinct from serving an individual for personal bankruptcy.
We aim to attempt service within 24–48 hours of receiving your instructions. Company attendance is during normal working hours, Monday to Friday. Tell us about any urgent deadline when requesting a quote so we can confirm availability.
For demands on a company debtor we attend during normal working hours, Monday to Friday, to remove the argument that the company was closed. Our evidence records the date, time and circumstances. This is our attendance policy, not a statutory rule that every company demand must be served during these hours.
Do not assume email alone satisfies the registered-office route under section 123(1)(a), which refers to leaving the demand at the registered office. Email can provide supplementary notification, but any alternative legal basis needs to be checked by the instructing legal team. Our service records physical attendance at the verified registered office.
Request a written quote for your instruction. Tell us the company name and number, registered-office address, urgency, documents to be served and any access difficulties. We confirm the agreed fee and scope before proceeding; specific prices are not published on this page.
A company need not trade from its registered office. We verify that the accountant's office or serviced address is the current registered office, attend during normal working hours and record how the demand is left and who receives it. An accountant's address that is not the registered office should not be assumed to satisfy this route. If access is blocked or delivery cannot be completed, we report the facts to the instructing team rather than assume valid service.
We provide a certificate of service for a statutory demand on a company, verified by a statement of truth. It records the registered office, date and time, how the demand was left and any recipient and their role. This supports the instructing legal team's evidence when considering a winding-up petition; the team must check the requirements of the particular proceedings. We do not publish our certificate template.
A company and its directors are different legal persons. Our registered-office service is directed at the company debtor; a director's home address should not be assumed to satisfy the registered-office route. If you require an additional delivery to an officer, explain this in your instruction so the legal team can confirm the basis and scope.
Provide the company's exact registered name and number, a copy of the demand, the service address, your deadline and contact details for the instructing legal team or creditor. Include any known access restrictions, recent address changes and additional documents to be served.
Yes — instructions from legal teams, creditors and debt recovery professionals for individual debtor demands are covered on our general statutory demands page. This page focuses on company demands. We do not accept instructions directly from private individuals.