Articles of Incorporation
The details a corporation sets out to be formed with a state.
Set out the details needed to form a corporation.
- Business / Legal document
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- The document as a file you download
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- A standard version you complete yourself
- Filed with the state: the state may require its own form, fee or extra information.
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Key features
Name and purpose
A blank for the name, including its ending, and for the business purpose, with the usual general purpose language.
Shares and classes
How many shares are authorised, of what class, the par value or that there is none, and the rights of each class.
Registered office and agent
The office, the agent and whether the agent's consent is attached or given separately.
Incorporator and first directors
The incorporator's name and address and the first directors, or “to be appointed by the incorporator”.
When it takes effect
Effective on filing or on a later date, and a place for further provisions or “none”.
About this document
Articles of incorporation are the document filed with a state to form a corporation. They give its name, purpose, shares, registered office and agent, incorporator and first directors.
States often have their own form, fee and extra requirements, so this blank form is a clean, complete version of the same information to complete by hand, not the state's own form. You file it yourself, or hand it to whoever files for you.
Is this document right for you?
Useful when
- You are forming a corporation and want your information organised
- You want to see what the filing asks for before dealing with the state
- You are working with a lawyer or filing agent and want a draft of the details
Commonly used by
- Founders forming a corporation
- Small business owners
- Startups preparing to file
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Alternatives
These are separate documents, for different jobs.
- LLC Articles of OrganizationSet out the details needed to form a limited liability company.View document
- Company bylawsThe internal rules a corporation is governed by.View document
- Incorporators' Organizational MeetingRecord the first meeting of a new corporation's incorporators.View document
- Corporation formationIncorporate a business as a corporation.View document
When to use this
- Gathering the details before filing with the state
- Giving a filing agent the information they need
- Preparing a draft for a lawyer to review
What happens next
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More in Incorporation & LLC
- LLC formationPrepare the paperwork to register a limited liability company.View document
- Operating agreementsSet the rules for how an LLC is owned and run.View document
- Company bylawsThe internal rules a corporation is governed by.View document
- LLC Articles of OrganizationSet out the details needed to form a limited liability company.View document
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Questions
About the articles of incorporation
Many states require their own form and a fee, and some also require extra information. Check with the state before filing, or use the form as the information to copy onto the state's form.
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