Passing a resolution does not immediately change a company’s registered name. Companies House must register the new name. NM01 is the notice for an unconditional change agreed by the company members, and the registrar needs the resolution as well as the notice.
Which companies can use this notice?
Use NM01 for an unconditional change of name by resolution. The form expressly excludes a conditional change. GOV.UK also distinguishes a change by special resolution from a change permitted by the company’s articles of association; the articles route uses NM04.
The PDF examined for this guide is version 7.0, November 2025, under section 78 of the Companies Act 2006. Its three numbered sections ask for the existing company details, proposed name and authentication. A company appointing a secretary at the same time reports that appointment separately on AP03; the name-change notice does not record officer appointments.
Fill in the existing name before the proposed name
Section 1 identifies the company as it is currently registered. Section 2 records the name the members resolved to adopt. Keep these two entries separate: putting the new name in both fields loses the distinction the notice is asking for.
| Box | What to enter | Supporting record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Company number and existing registered name in full | Current Companies House record |
| 2 | The proposed company name | The resolution agreeing the change |
| 3 | The authenticating person’s printed name | The form’s list of people authorised to authenticate |
Use typescript or bold black capitals. The proposed name must meet the company-name rules as well as being available. The form directs applicants to the company-name availability search and says duplicate names are not permitted.
For sensitive or restricted words, NM01 calls for NM06 and the appropriate supporting information before the name can be changed. Resolve that requirement before treating an available search result as approval of the name.
The resolution and the public record
Attach a copy of the resolution unless it has already been filed. NM01 specifically says the registrar cannot change the company name until the resolution has been received. The notice is therefore not a substitute for that document.
Authentication on this version is a printed name, with no signature required. The form lists authorised capacities such as director, secretary and an authorised person. It contains a separate instruction for a UK Societas about the organ to which the person belongs.
The optional presenter details are intended to help Companies House resolve a query. They are public, as is the rest of NM01. Do not put private contact information in those optional fields unless you intend it to appear on the public record.
Where to file and what the normal service costs
The dedicated GOV.UK NM01 page quotes £30 for the paper filing and £20 for the standard online filing. Make a paper-payment cheque payable to Companies House. The online service accepts changes of name by special resolution.
A same-day option is also listed, but the dedicated form page and general name-change guidance showed different fees when checked. Confirm the amount and availability in the official filing service before selecting it; this guide does not quote an unresolved same-day charge.
For a postal application, use the Companies House offices link printed in the PDF to check the destination. The form’s checklist asks for the correct fee, authentication, proposed name and resolution. It warns that incorrect or incomplete forms may be returned.
The change takes effect when Companies House registers it. Use that registration confirmation when deciding whether the company’s official name has changed, rather than the date on which you prepared the notice.