Minimum age for Directors

[timskipper]

Is there a minimum age you have to be before you can be appointed a director of a limited company?

[Plotloss]

http://www.completeformations.co.uk/companyfaqs/co...

[Super Bad]

Plotloss said:

http://www.completeformations.co.uk/companyfaqs/co...

I’m pretty sure that the rule’s have changed, The minimum age to be appointed a Company Director is now 18

[timskipper]

Interesting, thanks!

My boy shows great aptitude for business already, i'm sure once he's learned to read and write. And walk. And err speak, control his own bowels etc he'll have no trouble. :-)

I wonder if you ran a toy shop they would accept a child as Director of R&D?

[Super Bad]

You never know Companies House may be willing to make an exception on his behalf, Like they have for the Managing Director of Velvet Toilet Paper....Soft Soft Soft

[Eric Mc]

There used not to be. Minors (those under 18) could be appointed directors. However, the new Companies Act 2006 has made many, many changes to company law (the new Act is the largest piece of legislation passed in British history - odd for an act that was supposed to simplify company law). I would advise going to the Companies House website because that should have the most up to date news on the implementation of the new Act.

The Act is so big that it is being introduced over a three year period. It is likely that the first pieces of law introduced (April 2008) will be amended before the final parts of the act are implemented.

[therealpigdog]

As from 1 October 2008 the minimum age for directors is 16 (s157 of the 2006 Act). Prior to that anyone could be a director. Any 'underage' directors as of 1 October 2008 were automatically resigned from their position on that date.

[Eric Mc]

therealpigdog said:

As from 1 October 2008 the minimum age for directors is 16 (s157 of the 2006 Act). Prior to that anyone could be a director. Any 'underage' directors as of 1 October 2008 were automatically resigned from their position on that date.

Thanks for the clarification

[JustinP1]

therealpigdog said:

As from 1 October 2008 the minimum age for directors is 16 (s157 of the 2006 Act). Prior to that anyone could be a director. Any 'underage' directors as of 1 October 2008 were automatically resigned from their position on that date.

Thats interesting.

Before that it was anyone who was 'aware' of the responsibilities could be a director.

What would happen to the Ltd companies with underage directors who were automatically resigned!?

[therealpigdog]

JustinP1 said:

therealpigdog said:

As from 1 October 2008 the minimum age for directors is 16 (s157 of the 2006 Act). Prior to that anyone could be a director. Any 'underage' directors as of 1 October 2008 were automatically resigned from their position on that date.

Thats interesting.

Before that it was anyone who was 'aware' of the responsibilities could be a director.

What would happen to the Ltd companies with underage directors who were automatically resigned!?

no-one really knows! presumably the departing directors were in breach of their directors' duties by failing to put another director in place. it's all a bit chicken and egg though - good question for my trainee to research though!

[JustinP1]

therealpigdog said:

JustinP1 said:

therealpigdog said:

As from 1 October 2008 the minimum age for directors is 16 (s157 of the 2006 Act). Prior to that anyone could be a director. Any 'underage' directors as of 1 October 2008 were automatically resigned from their position on that date.

Thats interesting.

Before that it was anyone who was 'aware' of the responsibilities could be a director.

What would happen to the Ltd companies with underage directors who were automatically resigned!?

no-one really knows! presumably the departing directors were in breach of their directors' duties by failing to put another director in place. it's all a bit chicken and egg though - good question for my trainee to research though!

I am guessing that this issue only affects a handful of companies though. There is no realistic reason that a 15 year old need to incorporate a company. The only times that this seemed to happen was a child could be 'used' as a company director by the parents for tax reasons. I think this has more to do with the change in the law.