Registry
Registry service of the court that maintains the trade and companies register, receives company filings and transmits published data to BODACC.
Definition
The registry is the administrative department that, within the commercial court, maintains the trade and companies register and records the legal life of businesses. It receives registration applications, amending instruments, filed accounts, applications for removal from the register and court decisions subject to publication.
This role makes it the mandatory point of passage between the company and official information. When a company is created, amended, dissolved or wound up, it is the entry in the register that gives the event its fixed date. The registry verifies the formal regularity of the file, allocates or confirms the identification numbers and transmits the data intended for publication to the BODACC.
The registry is not a body that advises or supports businesses: it registers and publishes. It does not assess the merits of a decision, it verifies that the required documents are present and that the particulars correspond to the legal provisions. In the event of an irregularity, it rejects the formality and requests that it be regularised.
What the registry concretely does
Registration of formalities
It registers companies, records amendments to the articles of association, changes of directors or address, and takes note of dissolutions and removals from the register. Each entry alters the company's legal status as it appears in official extracts.
Transmission for publication
The particulars that must be brought to the public's knowledge are transmitted for publication, in particular to the BODACC. It is this chain, from the file filed with the registry through to the published notice, that makes the information available to all, without any action on the company's part.
How to complete a formality
Since the introduction of the one-stop shop, business formalities are filed electronically, and the data is then distributed among the relevant registers, including the national business register and the trade and companies register kept by the court registries. The business no longer has to choose its point of contact for each procedure, but registration is still carried out by the competent court registry.
A certificate of registration, often called a Kbis for commercial companies, is issued from the register. It certifies the company's situation on a given date and sets out the published particulars: company name, registered office, share capital, directors, identification number.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the registry and the INPI?
The registry maintains the trade and companies register and carries out registrations. The INPI administers the national business register, which centralizes data from the various registers. The two are complementary; they do not replace one another.
How long does it take to publish a formality?
The timeframe depends on the type of formality and the workload of the registry. Publication in the BODACC follows registration in the register, with a delay of a few days.
Can the registry refuse a formality?
Yes, when the file is incomplete or when the particulars do not match the supporting documents. The refusal is reasoned and the formality may be filed again after regularization.