(1)A document may be served on a person to whom this section applies by leaving it at, or sending it by post to, the person's registered address.
(2)This section applies to—
(a)a director or secretary of a company;
(aa)a person who is a registrable person or a registrable relevant legal entity in relation to a company (within the meanings given by section 790C);
(b)in the case of an overseas company whose particulars are registered under section 1046, a person holding any such position as may be specified for the purposes of this section by regulations under that section;
(c)a person appointed in relation to a company as—
(i)a judicial factor (in Scotland),
(ii) an interim manager appointed under section 76 of the Charities Act 2011 or section 33 of Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 , or
(iii)a manager appointed under section 47 of the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 (c. 27).
(3)This section applies whatever the purpose of the document in question.
It is not restricted to service for purposes arising out of or in connection with the appointment or position mentioned in subsection (2) or in connection with the company concerned.
(4) For the purposes of this section a person's “registered address” means any address for the time being shown as a current address in relation to that person in the part of the register available for public inspection.
(5)If notice of a change of that address is given to the registrar, a person may validly serve a document at the address previously registered until the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which notice of the change is registered.
(6)Service may not be effected by virtue of this section at an address—
(a)if notice has been registered of the termination of the appointment in relation to which the address was registered and the address is not a registered address of the person concerned in relation to any other appointment;
(b)in the case of a person holding any such position as is mentioned in subsection (2)(b), if the overseas company has ceased to have any connection with the United Kingdom by virtue of which it is required to register particulars under section 1046.
(7)Further provision as to service and other matters is made in the company communications provisions (see section 1143).
(8)Nothing in this section shall be read as affecting any enactment or rule of law under which permission is required for service out of the jurisdiction.
Cases considering section 1140 (26)
[2025] EWHC 2985 (Ch) · 5 November 2025Interprets
Interpreted as permitting valid service on a company director at the address nominated through Companies House for all purposes, including documents unrelated to the company’s business. (see para [7])
[2025] EWHC 1995 (Comm) · 10 July 2025Limits
Applies the rule permitting service by leaving documents at or posting them to a person’s registered address. Physical absence from the jurisdiction does not prevent service by that method. (see paras [30], [33], [36])
Confirms that service under section 1140 is not confined to documents connected with the appointment, office or company concerned. (see paras [31], [36])
Identifies an exception where termination of the relevant appointment has been registered and the address is not registered for another appointment. The judgment treated possible changes in Mr Abramovich’s status as relevant to service reliability. (see paras [32], [40]-[43])
Identifies an exception concerning an overseas company that has ceased its relevant connection with the United Kingdom. The provision formed part of the statutory exceptions considered by the court. (see para [32])
[2025] EWHC 1131 (Ch) · 9 May 2025Disapplies
Limits the alternative statutory service route. Although the first defendant had a registered address as a company director, section 1140 did not apply because the defendants were sued as trustees in relation to a trust-based pension scheme, not in their capacity as directors. (see paras [49]-[52])
Cited as permitting service by leaving a document at, or posting it to, a person’s registered address; the court held that the provision did not apply on the pleaded trustee capacity. (see paras [49]-[52])
Cited as identifying the persons to whom section 1140 applies, including a company director; the court held that this did not govern service in the present trustee claim. (see paras [49]-[52])
Cited for its statement that the statutory service route applies whatever the purpose of the document; the court did not apply it because the claim was against the defendants as trustees. (see paras [49]-[52])
Cited for the meaning of registered address; the statutory definition did not provide a basis for service in this trustee claim. (see paras [49]-[52])
Cited for the transitional effect of notice of a registered-address change; the court did not apply it to the defendants sued as trustees. (see para [49])
Cited for restrictions on service at a registered address after termination or cessation of relevant company connection; the court did not apply it to the trustee claim. (see para [49])
Cited for the limitation concerning permission for service out of the jurisdiction; the court held that section 1140 itself did not apply to the trustee claim. (see paras [49]-[52])
6 more judgments, and what each says about section 1140, are in the
case-law panel in the full Act.
1459.This section is a new provision. It ensures that the address on the public record for any director or secretary is effective for the service of documents on that person. Subsection ( 3) provides that the address is effective even if the document has no bearing on the person’s responsibilities as director or secretary. This provision also applies to the address on the public record of various other persons for whom the Act requires an address on the public record. Subsection ( 7) similarly makes clear that this section is supplemented by the “company communications provisions” referenced by section 1143.