How to Correct a Spelling Mistake in a Director or Shareholder’s Name UK

Mistakes happen – even on official company records. A common issue for many UK company owners is discovering a typo in a director’s name or a shareholder’s name on Companies House or in statutory registers.

Getting this right matters. An incorrect name can cause problems with legal documents, share transfers, bank accounts and investor checks.

Here’s what to do if you need to correct a spelling mistake in a director shareholder’s name in the UK.

1. Check Where the Error Appears

Before you rush to fix a typo, take time to check exactly where the spelling mistake appears and how it affects your company’s records. This helps you decide which forms to file and which registers to update.

Here’s where a director or shareholder name error typically shows up:

Companies House Public Record

Companies House keeps a public record of your company details including your Confirmation Statement, the list of directors, and in some cases, shareholders with significant control (PSCs).

• If the error appears on a director’s appointment, it’s shown in the list of directors on the Companies House website.
• If the mistake affects a shareholder’s name, it may appear in the Confirmation Statement (which reports shareholdings at a given date).

You can check what Companies House holds by searching your company’s profile:
Search the Companies House register

Internal Statutory Registers

Every UK limited company must maintain statutory registers at its registered office or SAIL address (Single Alternative Inspection Location). These are private records, not held by Companies House, but they are legally required under the Companies Act 2006.

Common registers include:

• Register of Directors lists the company’s directors and their details.
• Register of Members lists all shareholders and their shareholdings.
• PSC Register lists people with significant control (anyone with over 25% of shares or voting rights).

If the spelling mistake appears here, you’ll need to correct it in the relevant register.

Read More on statutory registers

Share Certificates and Other Paperwork

A director or shareholder’s name also appears on share certificates, board resolutions, meeting minutes, or other company documents. If there’s a typo, it’s good practice to:

• Reissue the share certificate with the corrected name.
• Keep clear copies showing the old version and the updated version.
• Note the correction in board meeting minutes to create an audit trail.

Why This Matters

Failing to correct a name properly can create confusion later for example, when selling shares, opening a bank account, applying for funding, or verifying identity for tax or legal checks.

A clear record helps prove ownership, avoids delays in transactions, and keeps your company compliant with UK company law.

Tip: Make a checklist of every place the name appears, so you don’t miss anything when correcting it.

2. Correcting a Director’s Name at Companies House

If you’ve spotted a spelling mistake in a director’s name on the public register at Companies House, it’s important to fix it promptly. An incorrect name on official records can cause delays with banks, HMRC, investors, or compliance checks and it can confuse who is legally responsible for running the company.

There are two main ways to fix an error, depending on where the mistake appears.

Option 1  File a CH01 Form

If the error is in the director’s appointment details (for example, their full legal name or any personal detail shown when they were added as a director), you’ll need to submit Form CH01 – Change of Director’s Details.

You can use this form to correct:

• A spelling mistake in the director’s first name or surname
• A wrong or outdated residential address (which is held privately by Companies House)
• A service address used for official correspondence

The CH01 can be filed online through Companies House WebFiling or submitted by post.

Important: If you have multiple changes to make (like correcting the name AND updating the address), you can do them all on the same CH01 form.

Option 2  File a Confirmation Statement

Sometimes, a director’s name is listed incorrectly on the Confirmation Statement instead of the appointment record. In that case, you can update the information when you file your next Confirmation Statement (Form CS01).

This annual filing lets you confirm your company’s key details, including:

• Current directors and their details
• Shareholders
• Share capital

You can include the corrected spelling and Companies House will update the public register once the statement is processed.

File your Confirmation Statement with us.

Best Practice: Keep Good Evidence

When you file a correction:

• Have a copy of the director’s ID (passport, driving licence) in case Companies House requests evidence.
• Keep a clear audit trail: board meeting minutes noting the correction are good practice.
• Check your Register of Directors internally update it at the same time so that your private company records match the public record.

Good to know:
There’s no fee for filing a CH01 or for making corrections in your Confirmation Statement (though the CS01 itself has a standard fee when filed).

Tip: Always double-check the spelling when adding a new director it’s much easier to catch errors at the start than fix them later.