For an Irish LTD, the constitution is a single document submitted with Form A1. Check that the document matches the intended company type and agreed formation details, and have unfamiliar provisions explained before you sign.
Know which document you are reviewing
The CRO’s required-steps guidance distinguishes an LTD’s one-document constitution from the memorandum-and-articles structure used by other company types. It also explains that an LTD does not have a stated objects clause. Start by confirming the company type with the person preparing the document.
Ask for a clearly named draft and an explanation of what it is intended to do. Avoid approving an attachment simply because its filename includes “standard”. A template still needs to be appropriate to the proposed company and completed consistently.
Check the identity details against the brief
Put the application brief beside the draft. Compare the full proposed name, company type, subscribers and share instructions. Mark any spelling discrepancy or unexplained figure before asking the presenter to make a correction. The CRO specifically requires the constitution’s name to match Form A1.
| Check | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Company identity | Exact full name and intended type |
| Ownership instructions | Agreed subscribers and share details |
| Unfamiliar provisions | A plain-language explanation from your adviser |
| Version | The final agreed draft and any change list |
| Completion | Current signing and submission instructions |
The table is a reading aid, not a substitute constitution or a complete legal-compliance checklist.
Ask what “standard” means for your plans
Describe any arrangements the preparer might not know about: different founder contributions, intended investment, special decision-making expectations or a promise to give someone shares later. Ask which questions belong in the constitution, which require another agreement and which need specialist advice.
Do not assume a general template records everything founders discussed informally. Request an explanation of any important arrangement that remains outside the document. If the answer changes your expectations about ownership or control, pause approval until the founders and adviser have resolved it.
Use a clear correction process
Collect comments into one dated list and nominate a person to send the agreed instructions. This reduces the risk of two founders requesting conflicting edits in separate email chains. Ask for a revised draft and check the actual changes rather than signing the previous copy by mistake.
For a fictional example, a studio founder sees a shortened trading brand in one attachment and the proposed legal name in another. The presenter corrects the inconsistent draft, labels the replacement and confirms which files should be used. The example illustrates version control; it does not say either fictional name would be accepted.
Follow the current completion instructions
Ask the presenter how each subscriber should complete the document and how the completed version will be submitted. Keep the instructions with the final draft. If a person is away or cannot use the proposed signing route, raise that before setting an expected incorporation date.
After incorporation, retain the completed documents where the appropriate people can find them. Name the folder with the full company identity and keep draft copies distinguishable from the final version. Avoid scattering unlabelled attachments across personal inboxes.
Changes after incorporation
The CRO publishes a separate constitution-alteration process. Later changes can involve resolutions and filing requirements. Do not treat a revised local document as proof that the official process has been completed.
- Can this guide replace legal review?
No. It helps you prepare questions and spot inconsistencies. Have the actual provisions assessed for your circumstances.
- What should I do with a clause I do not understand?
Ask the preparer to explain its effect with a concrete example before you approve the document.
Use the formation checklist to bring the agreed document details into the wider application brief.
Sources & review
Editorial owner: Thomas O'Sullivan. Sources checked 17 October 2026. Professional review: Thomas O'Sullivan (Company formation expert and writer), 17 October 2026. Scope: The ten new 17 October guide drafts: current text, practical examples and official source references.
Examples are fictional and do not establish name or domain availability. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or provider. Report a correction.