Certificate of Incorporation Forms by State

What Is a Certificate of Incorporation?

A Certificate of Incorporation Form is a legal document that confirms the formation of the company and its registration with the state. You can submit paperwork to receive this brief document at any time, but it is recommended to do so as soon as possible - the best time is when you formed a company, since the state may take a long time to process the request. If your business does not comply with the requirements of the state related to the legitimization of companies, the personal assets of business members may be at risk.

Alternate Name:

  • Articles of Incorporation.

Certificate of Incorporation Forms by State

Whether you manage a small business or a large company, you will need an Incorporation Certificate in the following circumstances:

  1. You need to present a certified copy of this document when borrowing money from a financial institution.
  2. You are buying real estate and the current owner demands to see this document to close the deal.
  3. You lease office or store space and the landlord requests to examine your official documentation before the lease is signed.
  4. You need to confirm the existence of your entity before you enter into a new service or supply contract, apply for business permits or licenses.
AlabamaHawaiiMassachusettsNew MexicoSouth Dakota
AlaskaIdahoMichiganNew YorkTennessee
ArizonaIllinoisMinnesotaNorth CarolinaTexas
ArkansasIndianaMississippiNorth DakotaUtah
CaliforniaIowaMissouriOhioVermont
ColoradoKansasMontanaOklahomaVirginia
ConnecticutKentuckyNebraskaOregon Washington
DelawareLouisianaNevadaPennsylvania West Virginia
FloridaMaineNew HampshireRhode Island Wisconsin
GeorgiaMarylandNew JerseySouth Carolina Wyoming

How to Get a Certificate of Incorporation?

Here is how you can obtain an Official Certificate of Incorporation on your own:

  1. Find out which agency in your state issues Certificates of Incorporation. Usually, you have to appear in person in the Secretary of State office or send them documentation via certified mail, but you can also submit information online.
  2. Confirm your business is active at the moment, state its exact official name, type of the company, purpose of business, date of incorporation, names of all business partners and members, physical and mailing addresses of the organization, and verify the identity of your registered agent. You do not have to share the internal procedures of your company (indemnification, voting rights, dissolving procedure) or financial information with the state.
  3. Pay processing fees for the Certificate - if you file the request online, you can also pay the fees online, otherwise, you need to find a mailing address for payment and send them a check or money order. Later you may have to pay a fee for photocopying - it depends on regulations in your state and the size of the document.
  4. When your documentation is examined, you will be able to get a plain copy of the Incorporation Certificate from the appropriate authorities. Note that you need to submit amendments to this document if you later modify crucial details, for instance, if you appoint a new registered agent.

Once the business owner and registered agent of the company get access to the Certificate of Incorporation, it means that anyone can obtain it to learn more about the company. Relevant state offices that maintain business records issue certified copies of incorporation documents to anyone who needs them - for personal use or to verify the information about a potential business partner or supplier.


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Documents:

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This Form is used for making amendments to a company's Certificate of Incorporation in the state of New Jersey. It provides a template for easily completing the necessary changes to the official documentation.

This document is used for filing the Articles of Incorporation for a not-for-profit corporation in the state of Kansas. It outlines the necessary information and requirements needed to establish the corporation.

This document is a sample of the Articles of Incorporation for a profit corporation in the state of Colorado. It outlines the basic information required to establish a corporation, such as the company name, purpose, registered agent, and share structure. This document is a useful template for those looking to incorporate in Colorado.

This Form is used for filing the Articles of Incorporation for a for-profit corporation in the state of Kansas. It is a legal document that establishes the creation of the corporation and includes important details such as the company's name, purpose, registered agent, and shareholders.

This document is used for incorporating a business in Minnesota. It is called the Articles of Incorporation Form and is required by the state's business laws.

This Form is used for obtaining a Certificate of Incorporation in the state of Connecticut. It is required to form a corporation in the state.

This Form is used for making changes to the Articles of Incorporation for a company registered in the state of Florida. It is used to amend or update important information about the company, such as the business name, address, or registered agent.

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