What articles of association are

Articles of association are the core constitutional document of many corporate entities. They set out the company’s basic framework: name, seat, purpose, share capital structure, and internal governance rules. Depending on the legal form, the exact terminology and mandatory elements differ.

Relationship to the commercial register

Certain facts from the articles are reflected in the register entry (for example, the company name and seat). Amendments that change registerable facts often trigger a filing to the commercial register. For corporate forms, amendments commonly require a formally documented resolution and, in many cases, notarization.

What third parties care about

Third parties usually focus on whether the facts stated in a document (name, legal form, seat, representation) match the official register extract. The internal clauses of the articles may matter in specific transactions, but the register extract is the usual baseline reference.

Elements commonly included (illustrative)

• Company name and registered seat
• Object/purpose clause (company purpose)
• Share capital and ownership structure rules
• Representation and governance rules
• Rules for resolutions, transfers, and amendments

Related pages

• Registration process — How formation documents and filings connect.
• Changes & filings — Which changes commonly require registration.