# Maintenance of Incorporation Documents at the Registered Office
## The Rule
The company shall maintain and preserve copies of all the documents and information that were originally filed for incorporation at its registered office — for the entire duration of its existence, i.e., until its dissolution under the Act.
## Why is this required?
- The incorporation documents (MOA, AOA, declarations, identity proofs, address proofs, etc.) form the founding record of the company.
- They establish the company's legal identity, constitutional powers, and the basis on which the Registrar issued the Certificate of Incorporation.
- They may be required for:
- Inspection by shareholders, creditors, and regulators
- Legal proceedings (e.g., disputes about object clause, vires of contracts)
- Investigation by the Registrar, SFIO, or Tribunal
- Verification by auditors
## Key Points to Remember
- Location: At the registered office of the company (not at any branch or director's residence).
- Form: Copies as originally filed — meaning the version filed with the ROC, not any amended version.
- Period: From incorporation till dissolution (i.e., for the entire life of the company).
- This is in addition to (not instead of) statutory registers and books of account required under other provisions.