# The law on getting company records released

> 2 of 6 legal texts read in GB and the US let whoever stores a company's records keep or sell them for unpaid charges, newest read 28 October 2026.

Sell Company Records To AI · https://sellcompanyrecordstoai.com/datasets/company-records-release-law/ · computed 2026-10-28

**Texts that let a holder keep or sell stored records:** 2 of 6 instruments (11 texts read; 16 named).

## The answers, question by question

- **What the text governs:** an office-holder or trustee getting records in 2, a holder keeping or selling stored goods for unpaid charges 2, what records a company keeps and where 1, the rights of people named in the records 1
- **Who the text gives the power to:** not stated 2, the office-holder, trustee or court 2, the person holding the records 2
- **What it says, in its own words:** stated 5, not stated 1

## Every instrument

| Instrument | What the text governs | Who the text gives the power to | What it says, in its own words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companies Act 2006 (UK) | what records a company keeps and where | not stated | not stated |
| Insolvency Act 1986 (UK) | an office-holder or trustee getting records in | the office-holder, trustee or court | to pay, deliver, convey, surrender or transfer the property, books, papers or records to… |
| Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (UK) | a holder keeping or selling stored goods for unpaid charges | the person holding the records | In the cases of Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act a bailee may, for the purposes of… |
| UK GDPR | the rights of people named in the records | not stated | personal data may be stored for longer periods insofar as the personal data will be… |
| Uniform Commercial Code (US) | a holder keeping or selling stored goods for unpaid charges | the person holding the records | for charges for storage or transportation, including demurrage and terminal charges… |
| US Bankruptcy Code | an office-holder or trustee getting records in | the office-holder, trustee or court | to turn over or disclose such recorded information to the trustee |

## The sentence each answer rests on (33)

- Companies Act 2006 (UK), [Section 1134, meaning of company records](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/1134), read 2026-10-28, What the text governs: "In this Part “company records” means"
- Companies Act 2006 (UK), [Section 1134, meaning of company records](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/1134), read 2026-10-28, Who the text gives the power to: Not addressed: the text read on 2026-10-28 (5,675 characters) is silent on this.
- Companies Act 2006 (UK), [Section 1134, meaning of company records](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/1134), read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words: Not addressed: the text read on 2026-10-28 (5,675 characters) is silent on this.
- Insolvency Act 1986 (UK), [Section 234, getting in the company's property](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/234), read 2026-10-28, What the text governs: "Where any person has in his possession or control any property, books, papers or records to which the company appears to be entitled"
- Insolvency Act 1986 (UK), [Section 234, getting in the company's property](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/234), read 2026-10-28, Who the text gives the power to: "the court may require that person forthwith (or within such period as the court may direct) to pay, deliver, convey, surrender or transfer the property, books, papers or records to the office-holder"
- Insolvency Act 1986 (UK), [Section 234, getting in the company's property](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/234), read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words: "to pay, deliver, convey, surrender or transfer the property, books, papers or records to the office-holder"
- Insolvency Act 1986 (UK), [Section 235, duty to co-operate](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/235), read 2026-10-28, What the text governs: "give to the office-holder such information concerning the company and its promotion, formation, business, dealings, affairs or property"
- Insolvency Act 1986 (UK), [Section 235, duty to co-operate](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/235), read 2026-10-28, Who the text gives the power to: "as the office-holder may at any time after the effective date reasonably require"
- Insolvency Act 1986 (UK), [Section 235, duty to co-operate](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/235), read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words: "give to the office-holder such information concerning the company and its promotion, formation, business, dealings, affairs or property as the office-holder may at any time after the effective date reasonably require"
- Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (UK), [Schedule 1, notice to the bailor](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/schedule/1), read 2026-10-28, What the text governs: "a bailee may, in the circumstances specified in this Part of this Schedule, by notice given to the bailor impose on him an obligation to take delivery of the goods"
- Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (UK), [Schedule 1, notice to the bailor](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/schedule/1), read 2026-10-28, Who the text gives the power to: "by notice given to the bailor impose on him an obligation to take delivery of the goods"
- Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (UK), [Schedule 1, notice to the bailor](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/schedule/1), read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words: "The notice shall be in writing, and may be given either"
- Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (UK), [Section 12, bailee's power of sale](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/section/12), read 2026-10-24, What the text governs: "has in accordance with Part II of Schedule 1 to this Act given notice to the bailor of his intention to sell the goods under this subsection, or"
- Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (UK), [Section 12, bailee's power of sale](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/section/12), read 2026-10-24, Who the text gives the power to: "a bailee may, for the purposes of subsection (1), impose an obligation on the bailor to take delivery of the goods"
- Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (UK), [Section 12, bailee's power of sale](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/section/12), read 2026-10-24, What it says, in its own words: "In the cases of Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act a bailee may, for the purposes of subsection (1), impose an obligation on the bailor to take delivery of the goods"
- UK GDPR, [Article 5, principles](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2016/679/article/5), read 2026-10-08, What the text governs: "kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed"
- UK GDPR, [Article 5, principles](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2016/679/article/5), read 2026-10-08, Who the text gives the power to: Not addressed: the text read on 2026-10-08 (7,814 characters) is silent on this.
- UK GDPR, [Article 5, principles](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2016/679/article/5), read 2026-10-08, What it says, in its own words: "personal data may be stored for longer periods insofar as the personal data will be processed solely for archiving purposes in the public interest"
- Uniform Commercial Code (US), [UCC 7-204, duty of care](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-204), read 2026-10-28, What the text governs: Not addressed: the text read on 2026-10-28 (2,106 characters) is silent on this.
- Uniform Commercial Code (US), [UCC 7-204, duty of care](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-204), read 2026-10-28, Who the text gives the power to: Not addressed: the text read on 2026-10-28 (2,106 characters) is silent on this.
- Uniform Commercial Code (US), [UCC 7-204, duty of care](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-204), read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words: "A warehouse is liable for damages for loss of or injury to the goods caused by its failure to exercise care with regard to the goods that a reasonably careful person would exercise under similar circumstances."
- Uniform Commercial Code (US), [UCC 7-209, lien of warehouse](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-209), read 2026-10-28, What the text governs: "A warehouse has a lien against the bailor on the goods covered by a warehouse receipt or storage agreement or on the proceeds thereof in its possession for charges for storage"
- Uniform Commercial Code (US), [UCC 7-209, lien of warehouse](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-209), read 2026-10-28, Who the text gives the power to: "A warehouse has a lien against the bailor on the goods covered by a warehouse receipt or storage agreement"
- Uniform Commercial Code (US), [UCC 7-209, lien of warehouse](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-209), read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words: "for charges for storage or transportation, including demurrage and terminal charges, insurance, labor, or other charges"
- Uniform Commercial Code (US), [UCC 7-210, enforcement of warehouse lien](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-210), read 2026-10-28, What the text governs: "a warehouse 's lien may be enforced by public or private sale of the goods , in bulk or in packages, at any time or place and on any terms that are commercially reasonable"
- Uniform Commercial Code (US), [UCC 7-210, enforcement of warehouse lien](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-210), read 2026-10-28, Who the text gives the power to: "after notifying all persons known to claim an interest in the goods"
- Uniform Commercial Code (US), [UCC 7-210, enforcement of warehouse lien](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-210), read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words: "a demand for payment within a specified time not less than 10 days after receipt of the notification"
- US Bankruptcy Code, [11 U.S.C. 521, debtor's duties](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/521), read 2026-10-28, What the text governs: "surrender to the trustee all property of the estate and any recorded information, including books, documents, records, and papers, relating to property of the estate"
- US Bankruptcy Code, [11 U.S.C. 521, debtor's duties](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/521), read 2026-10-28, Who the text gives the power to: "if a trustee is serving in the case or an auditor is serving under section 586(f) of title 28"
- US Bankruptcy Code, [11 U.S.C. 521, debtor's duties](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/521), read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words: "surrender to the trustee all property of the estate and any recorded information, including books, documents, records, and papers"
- US Bankruptcy Code, [11 U.S.C. 542, turnover of property to the estate](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/542), read 2026-10-28, What the text governs: "shall deliver to the trustee, and account for, such property or the val"
- US Bankruptcy Code, [11 U.S.C. 542, turnover of property to the estate](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/542), read 2026-10-28, Who the text gives the power to: "the court may order an attorney, accountant, or other person that holds recorded information, including books, documents, records, and papers"
- US Bankruptcy Code, [11 U.S.C. 542, turnover of property to the estate](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/542), read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words: "to turn over or disclose such recorded information to the trustee"

## Methodology

Each instrument's own the statutes' own texts in GB and the US were read through estate-fetch and stored whole (sha256 on every row). For every text, three questions were answered from its own words: what the text governs, who the text gives the power to, what it says, in its own words. Every stated answer carries the sentence it rests on, checked against the stored text; 'not stated' means the text read does not address the question. A instrument with several texts reads 'varies' where they disagree. 6 instruments, 11 texts.

## Sources

- [UCC 7-209 (lien of warehouse)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-209) (read)
- [UCC 7-210 (enforcement of warehouse's lien)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-210) (read)
- [UCC 7-204 (duty of care; contractual limitation of warehouse's liability)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/7/7-204) (read)
- [Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, s. 12 (bailee's power of sale)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/section/12) (read)
- [Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, Schedule 1 (notice to the bailor)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/schedule/1) (read)
- [Companies Act 2006, s. 1134 (meaning of company records)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/1134) (read)
- [Companies Act 2006, s. 1135 (form of company records)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/1135) (unread)
- [Companies Act 2006, s. 1136 (regulations about where certain records are kept)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/1136) (unread)
- [Insolvency Act 1986, s. 234 (getting in the company's property)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/234) (read)
- [Insolvency Act 1986, s. 235 (duty to co-operate with the office-holder)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/235) (read)
- [Insolvency Act 1986, s. 236 (inquiry into the company's dealings)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/236) (unread)
- [11 U.S.C. 542 (turnover of property to the estate)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/542) (read)
- [11 U.S.C. 521 (debtor's duties)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/521) (read)
- [UK GDPR, art. 5 (principles, storage limitation)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2016/679/article/5) (read)
- [UK GDPR, art. 17 (right to erasure)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2016/679/article/17) (unread)
- [UK GDPR, art. 20 (right to data portability)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2016/679/article/20) (unread)

## Cite or embed

- 2 of 6 legal texts read in GB and the US let whoever stores a company's records keep or sell them for unpaid charges, newest read 28 October 2026.
- What the text governs, by instrument: a holder keeping or selling stored goods for unpaid charges 2 of 6, an office-holder or trustee getting records in 2 of 6, what records a company keeps and where 1 of 6, the rights of people named in the records 1 of 6 (6 instruments, read 28 October 2026).
- Who the text gives the power to, by instrument: the person holding the records 2 of 6, not stated 2 of 6, the office-holder, trustee or court 2 of 6 (6 instruments, read 28 October 2026).
- What it says, in its own words, by instrument: stated 5 of 6, not stated 1 of 6 (6 instruments, read 28 October 2026).

Cite as: "The law on getting company records released", updated 2026-10-28, https://sellcompanyrecordstoai.com/datasets/company-records-release-law/.

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