Statutory Declaration of Solvency
— London Notary Public
Need your declaration witnessed quickly? Fixed fees. Same-day appointments at our Mayfair office. Regulated by the Faculty Office.
Why You Need a Statutory Declaration of Solvency
When a Limited Company decides to wind up voluntarily through a members’ voluntary liquidation, the directors must make a formal declaration confirming the company’s financial position. This is not optional — it is a legal obligation under the Insolvency Act 1986, Section 89.
The statutory declaration of solvency serves as proof that the company can meet all its liabilities within 12 months. Without it, the liquidation cannot proceed, and the process defaults to a creditors’ voluntary liquidation — which is slower, more expensive, and subjects the company to far greater scrutiny.
Getting the declaration wrong carries serious consequences. If directors make a false declaration of solvency knowing the company is actually insolvent, they commit a criminal offence. This can result in fines, disqualification as a director, and personal liability for company debts. The declaration must be accurate, properly prepared, and authenticated by someone with legal authority to do so.
A notary public is the ideal choice to witness this declaration. Unlike a general solicitor, a notary is a specialist in authentication and holds a unique role under English law. We can process your declaration on the same day, in our Wigmore Street office, with fixed fees and no surprises.
What Is a Statutory Declaration of Solvency?
A statutory declaration of solvency is a formal written statement made by the directors of a Limited Company, declaring that the company is solvent and can pay its debts in full, including all statutory interest and creditor balances, within a specified period of 12 months.
The declaration must include a full statement of assets and liabilities showing the company’s financial position at the date the declaration is made. The directors must list all outstanding liabilities, confirm that the company’s assets are sufficient to discharge these in full within the required timeframe, and make the declaration before a notary public or solicitor.
Once witnessed and authenticated, the solvency statement is submitted to the licensed insolvency practitioner managing the liquidation procedure. It forms the legal basis on which the MVL can proceed.
It is worth noting that a statutory declaration of solvency under the Insolvency Act 1986 is different from a solvency statement under the Companies Act 2006. The latter is used for other corporate transactions (such as share buybacks) and does not require notarial witnessing. If you are uncertain which document you need, your accountant or licensed insolvency practitioner will advise.
Who Can Witness a Declaration of Solvency?
Under the Insolvency Act 1986, a statutory declaration of solvency must be witnessed by a notary public or a solicitor. Both are legally authorised to authenticate the declaration, and both carry the same weight in law.
However, a notary public is often the better choice. Notaries are regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury and are specialists in the authentication and verification of documents. We are experienced in the requirements of the liquidation process, and many licensed insolvency practitioners prefer working with notaries for the speed and flexibility we offer.
At Edward Young Notaries, once you attend our Wigmore Street office, we will verify your identity, confirm your understanding of the contents, witness your signature, apply our notarial seal, and provide you with the executed original — ready to hand to your insolvency practitioner.
How Does the Process Work?
From first contact to executed declaration — here is what to expect.
Prepare & Contact Us
Your accountant or insolvency practitioner will draft the declaration. Email us a copy in advance so we can review it and confirm it meets notarial requirements. Book a same-day or next-day appointment by calling +44 20 7499 2605 or using the form below.
Attend Our Office
Visit us at 19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH, at your scheduled time. Bring the signed declaration and photographic ID. If you cannot attend in person, video appointments are available and are permitted by statute under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 — the legal effect is identical.
Executed & Ready to Go
We witness your signature, apply our notarial seal, and hand you the executed original. The whole appointment takes 20–30 minutes. Your declaration is then ready to submit to your licensed insolvency practitioner and progress the liquidation procedure.
Request a Fixed-Fee Quote
Tell us what you need and we’ll come back to you within the hour. No obligation.
Why Choose Edward Young Notaries?
We are trusted by company directors and insolvency practitioners across London for our speed, accuracy, and professional standards.
- Same-day appointments — we understand that liquidation timelines are tight and accommodate urgent requests as standard
- Fixed fees, no hidden costs — you will know the exact cost upfront, with VAT shown clearly on every invoice
- Regulated by the Faculty Office — the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior regulatory body for notaries in England and Wales
- Member of the Notaries Society — professional membership and ongoing CPD confirming our expertise
- STEP Qualified — Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, demonstrating advanced expertise in trust and estate law
- ACSP Registered — registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider
- Central London Mayfair location — 19 Wigmore Street is easily accessible from across the City, West End, and beyond
- 5-star Google reviews — trusted by hundreds of clients
How Much Does It Cost?
Fixed fees. No surprises. VAT charged at the standard rate.
Single Director
Witnessing and authentication of one statutory declaration of solvency. Notarial seal and certificate included. No hidden costs.
Multiple Directors
Two or more directors signing on the same day. Contact us for a bespoke fixed-fee quote — we offer discounts where multiple declarations are required at the same appointment.
All fees are fixed and inclusive of witnessing, sealing, and provision of the executed original. Contact us for a no-obligation quote.
Members’ Voluntary Liquidation — The Wider Context
A members’ voluntary liquidation is a controlled, tax-efficient wind-down of a solvent company. It is typically used when shareholders wish to close a business cleanly, return capital, and access favourable tax treatment on any distributed gains.
The MVL process begins with the statutory declaration of solvency. Once this is witnessed and authenticated, it is filed with the licensed insolvency practitioner, who uses it to confirm that the company can pay all debts in full before distributing remaining assets to shareholders.
One significant tax benefit of the MVL route is access to Business Asset Disposal Relief (formerly Entrepreneurs’ Relief). This can reduce capital gains tax on distributions from 20% to 10% for qualifying shareholders — making the MVL structure highly attractive from a tax planning perspective. Proper compliance with the Insolvency Act 1986, including the correctly executed declaration of solvency, is essential to access this relief.
Following the declaration, your licensed insolvency practitioner will manage the rest of the liquidation procedure: calling and running a shareholder meeting, realising company assets, settling all creditor balances, distributing remaining funds to shareholders, and filing final accounts with Companies House before striking the company off the register.
Your statutory declaration witnessed by Edward Young Notaries is the first formal step — and the one that must be correct. If the company has any overseas creditors or assets, an apostille service may also be required to validate the notarial seal internationally under the Hague Convention.
If the directors or persons of significant control are also required to complete identity verification for Companies House purposes, we offer a dedicated Director Identity Verification service as part of our wider corporate notary services for UK businesses.
What Our Clients Say
Rated 5 stars on Google. Trusted by company directors and insolvency professionals across London.
“I needed a statutory declaration witnessed urgently for an MVL and Edward Young arranged a same-day appointment. Efficient, professional, and the fixed fee was exactly as quoted. Highly recommended.”
“We regularly refer clients to Edward Young Notaries for declaration of solvency witnessing. Fast turnaround, always professional, and they understand the MVL process inside out.”
“Excellent service from start to finish. Clear on pricing, easy to book, and the appointment itself was quick and straightforward. The team knew exactly what we needed.”
“Used Edward Young for our company’s voluntary liquidation declaration. Same-day video appointment was available and worked perfectly. Everything accepted by our insolvency practitioner without query.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about statutory declarations of solvency in the UK.
Case Study: Declaration of Solvency for Members’ Voluntary Liquidation
A real example of how Edward Young Notaries handled a statutory declaration of solvency for directors based in different jurisdictions under time pressure.
Background
A UK-registered private limited company was preparing for a members’ voluntary liquidation as part of a wider corporate restructuring. The company was solvent, had ceased trading, and the directors had resolved that the most tax-efficient and orderly route was to wind up the company voluntarily. To proceed, the directors were required to make a statutory declaration of solvency before a notary public, confirming that the company could pay its debts in full within the statutory 12-month period.
The Challenge
The directors were based in different jurisdictions and faced several practical and legal difficulties: the declaration had to comply precisely with UK statutory requirements, supporting financial information had to be properly referenced, the declaration had to be made urgently to meet Companies House filing deadlines, and one director required clear reassurance about the personal legal implications of making a sworn statement of solvency. They needed a notary who could act quickly, explain the process clearly, and ensure the document would be accepted without issue.
Our Role
As their notary public, Edward Young Notaries reviewed the draft statutory declaration of solvency and confirmed it was in appropriate form. We verified the identities of both directors and confirmed their understanding of the declaration. We then administered the oath and witnessed the execution of the declaration — with one director attending in person and one attending remotely, which is permitted under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020. The completed document was suitable for immediate use by advisers and Companies House.
The Outcome
- The statutory declaration of solvency was accepted without query by all relevant parties
- The members’ voluntary liquidation proceeded smoothly and on schedule
- Both directors had confidence that their personal and corporate obligations were properly discharged
- The client’s accountants and liquidators reported no follow-up issues or ie-execution requests
- Same-day execution avoided statutory delays and allowed immediate onward filing
“Documents were fit for purpose first time. The directors clearly understood their lesponsibilities when making a sworn declaration, and there were no follow-up issues whatsoever.”
— Client’s Insolvency Practitioner
Other Statutory Declaration Services
Edward Young Notaries witnesses and authenticates a wide range of statutory declarations. If you need a declaration for a different purpose, we can help with these too:
- Statutory Declaration — Freedom to Marry — required for UK nationals marrying abroad, confirming there is no legal impediment to the marriage
- Statutory Declaration — Right of Way — used to confirm long use of a path or right of way, typically for Land Registry purposes
- All Statutory Declaration Services — general statutory declarations for any legal purpose, including change of name, lost documents, and other personal or corporate matters
Not sure which type of statutory declaration you need? Contact us and we will advise you.
About Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers is a full-service notary practice in the heart of London, specialising in statutory declarations, document authentication, and services for company directors and insolvency professionals. We offer same-day appointments, fixed fees, and a professional approach to every instruction.
Ready to Proceed with Your Declaration?
Book a same-day or next-day appointment in Mayfair, or arrange a video appointment from anywhere in the UK. Fixed fees. No obligation.