Find out how to notify or apply to us if you're changing your firm’s legal status.
On this page 
Depending on the legal structure of the previous entity and the new entity, you'll either need to submit:
- a new authorisation application, or
- a SUP 15 notification
Refer to the table of legal structures below to find out which one applies to you.
If you're submitting a new application
Read our main page about getting authorised and make sure you've prepared everything before you apply.
You'll also need to sign a Deed Poll declaration and cancel the previous entity's permissions.
Your customers
If you have any ongoing contractual agreements with your customers, you must:
- contact them and agree either to amend their existing contracts, or
- agree new contracts to take into account the change in your firm’s legal entity
Otherwise you should let your customers know about the change in the legal entity as and when you next deal with them.
Your new legal structure
Use the table below to compare the previous legal structure of your entity with what the new structure will be. If your new structure indicates:
- Yes – you must submit a new authorisation application
- No – you only need to submit a SUP 15 notification
Either way, submit your application or notification through Connect.
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Applicant |
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Sole trader |
Private limited company |
Public limited company |
Partnership |
Limited partnership |
Limited liability partnership |
Unincorporated association |
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Existing firm |
Sole trader |
- |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Private limited company |
Yes |
- |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Public limited company |
Yes |
No |
- |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Partnership |
No |
Yes
|
Yes
|
- |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
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Limited partnership |
Yes
|
Yes |
Yes |
No |
- |
Yes |
Yes |
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Limited liability partnership |
Yes |
Yes
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Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
- |
Yes |
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Unincorporated association |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
- |
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