Welcome to the Company Liquidation Section of the Insolvency Service Website

This section covers general information you may require regarding the liquidation process.

What is Liquidation?

Liquidation is a legal process, which applies to companies or partnerships in which a liquidator is appointed to "wind up" the affairs of a company. At the end of the process, the company ceases to exist. The purpose of liquidation is to ensure that all the company's affairs have been dealt with and all its assets realised.

When this has been done, the liquidator will apply to have the company removed from the register at the Companies Registry and dissolved, which means it ceases to exist.

There are two types of liquidation, Compulsory Liquidation (click here) and Voluntary Liquidation (click here)

You may find it helpful to read our publications "Guide for Directors", "How to wind-up your own company" and "How to wind-up a company that owes you money" which are available in the Guidance Section of this website.

We cannot advise you on specific insolvency matters such as whether a company should go into compulsory liquidation or look at alternatives (see Alternatives to Liquidation). You should get independent advice on these matters from a solicitor, qualified accountant, or authorised insolvency practitioner (see List of Insolvency Practitioners) or a reputable financial advisor or debt councillor.

The Citizens Advice Bureaux is an organisation, which also may be in a position to offer advice to you in respect of any debts.