where do i find the articles of incorporation

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When a business incorporates in the Usa, it must file manufactures of incorporation with the state'southward secretary of country. These articles provide basic information about the business and the name and contact data for the corporation's registered agent. Whether yous're researching a corporation for your own interests, or for concern or legal purposes, you may need a copy of the corporation's manufactures of incorporation. In many states you lot can view a corporation'southward articles of incorporation online. You can also gild paper copies for a minor fee.^[1]

1. 1

   Go to the website of your country's secretary of state. Each state'due south secretary of land has a website you can typically use to get corporate documents for corporations registered to do business in that state. To find the official site, do a basic internet search for the terms "secretary of country" along with the name of your state.^[two]

   • The official website typically ends with ".gov" or ".usa." Some states have a split up website for the secretarial assistant of state's business department. Check the "about" page of any website you find to make sure it'due south an official government site.
   • In some states, such equally New Jersey, these records are kept by the land'due south treasury department. If the secretary of state doesn't keep business organization filings, the office'south website will have a link to the appropriate section.^[three]

2. ii

   Find the online business organization directory. In one case you lot're on the secretary of land'south website, look for a tab or link that will take you to online services. If corporate documents are bachelor online, there will be a link in that location to request them.^[4]

   • Look for a tab or menu pick called "Business Filings" or something similar. From there, expect for an option that mentions copies or information requests.

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3. 3

   Enter data near the business concern. Search for the corporation using the proper name of the corporation. You may also be able to find what you need by entering the name of ane of the corporate officers or the registered agent.^[5]

   • If you lot don't know the legal name of the corporation, expect it up first using the corporate names database on the same website.
   • Some state databases likewise allow you to use keywords, so you don't have to worry about having the exact legal name of the corporation.

4. 4

   Download the articles of incorporation. When you lot detect the correct corporation, you'll see information available online for that corporation. If the actual manufactures of incorporation are available for download, you'll run into a link to view them.^[6]

   • Once y'all download the manufactures, you tin can print them or salvage the digital file to apply however you need.
   • The online copy isn't a certified copy, and so you may not be able to use information technology for legal purposes. However, the information on the downloaded re-create is exactly what the corporation filed with the secretary of state, so yous can rely on it.

5. five

   Contact the secretary of state'southward office if y'all can't find what you need. Some states may non have all corporate records digitized. Especially if you're looking for the articles of incorporation of an older corporation, they may not exist available online.^[seven]

   • Yous can get contact data for the secretarial assistant of state'south office on their website. There may be a specific telephone number or accost you're supposed to utilise if yous're requesting copies of corporate records.

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1. one

   Determine if you demand a certified copy. If you lot need a copy of the manufactures of incorporation for a business or legal reason, y'all may need to get a certified copy rather than merely a plain re-create. A certified copy includes a seal from the secretary of country'southward function certifying that the copy is official and authentic.^[8]

   • For example, you might demand a certified re-create of a corporation's articles of incorporation if you plan on suing the corporation, or if you run a competing business and want to endeavour to purchase them out.
   • A certified re-create typically costs a little more than to get. Y'all also may accept to wait a little longer to get a certified copy, since the certification of the document is done by hand.

2. ii

   Visit the website for your state'southward secretary of state. In some states, the secretary of state's role allows you to request certified copies of corporate documents online. If this pick is available, you'll find a link to do and then on the website of your land's secretary of state.^[9]

   • Expect for information near certified copies, and it will list the methods you can utilize to request them.
   • While you may exist able to view or fifty-fifty print the documents online, this is different from a certified copy. A certified re-create must exist generated by the secretary of state's function.

3. 3

   Fill up out the request form. If you're able to request certified copies online, your country'southward secretarial assistant of country will provide a make full-in-the-blank request form for you to consummate. Yous'll typically check a box to indicate you need certified copies.^[ten]

   • Make certain you're using the right business name. You lot can wait information technology up in the secretary of state'south business proper name database if you're unsure.
   • Some states may enable yous to search for business documents by keyword, and so asking a certified re-create from the same page. If that option is available, it can aid you ensure that you're getting the certificate you need.

4. iv

   Pay the required fees. You'll have to pay a fee to get a certified copy of a corporation's manufactures of incorporation. If yous request the certified copy online, you usually have the option of paying using a credit or debit card. Some states may allow you to pay using an electronic check.^[11]

   • The fees for a certified copy are higher than the fees for a plain re-create. Await to pay around $20 or $30 for each certified copy.

5. 5

   Receive your certified copies in the post. If you asking your certified copies online, the office typically receives your request immediately. Nevertheless, the section still needs processing fourth dimension to pull the documents from land records and certify their accuracy.^[12]

   • Once the articles of incorporation are retrieved, a staff member in the function will bank check the concern filings to brand sure they are the about recent articles filed by the corporation, and certify their accuracy.
   • Wait information technology to have a couple of weeks before you receive your certified documents in the post.

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1. 1

   Find the corporation'southward official legal name. To request a copy of a corporation's articles of incorporation, yous'll need the official legal proper name of the corporation. Look it up in the business concern name database on the website of your state's secretary of land to make certain you've got it correct.^[13]

   • Double-cheque the name you find and cross-reference it with any other information you lot have to make sure it's the right name for the corporation.

2. 2

   Become a copy of your state's asking grade. Many states have specific forms for yous to make full out to request corporate documents, including a corporation'due south articles of incorporation. These forms typically are available from the office of the country's secretary of state. You may be able to download the correct form online.^[14]

   • Put information well-nigh yourself and the documents y'all want. Include an address where the secretarial assistant of state'south part can mail your documents.

3. 3

   Draft your written request if no forms are available. Some states don't accept an official form you tin can utilise to asking corporate documents. In that case, you lot tin can write a basic business letter that includes information near the corporation and the documents you are requesting.^[15]

   • Include your name and an address where the secretary of state's office tin mail your documents. Some states provide an expedited service that allows you to have the documents faxed to you, merely you lot'll pay additional fees.^[16]
   • Specify if you demand more than one re-create, and whether all copies need to be certified. If y'all need more than 1 copy, you may demand to pay a separate fee for each copy.

4. four

   Locate the right land government section. Search online for the government department or agency in your state where corporate documents are held. You can also find out by contacting an agency or organization dedicated to small-scale businesses or consumer rights.^[17]

   • In nearly states, you tin can get copies of corporate documents, including the articles of incorporation, from the office of the state's secretary of state. In other states, these documents are kept by the country's treasury department.

5. five

   Mail your asking with required fees. The state secretary of state'southward office has a specific address you lot'll use to mail a written request for a corporation's articles of incorporation. To find out the fees, look on the website of the state's secretary of state, or telephone call the function and ask.^[xviii]

   • The fees for a re-create vary greatly amongst states, simply typically won't be more than $xx or $30 for a certified copy (less for a plain copy). Some states take credit or debit card information for fee payment, but plan on making your payment using a check or money order.

6. 6

   Allow adequate processing fourth dimension. Once y'all submit your asking, it may take a couple of weeks for the secretary of state'south function to call up your records and transport them to you. Yous typically won't get any confirmation that your asking has been received.^[xix]

   • If you oasis't heard back from the secretary of state's office or received your documents within a month or and so, contact the office directly to find out the status of your asking.

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• This article covers the procedures for obtaining manufactures of incorporation for corporations registered in the Us. If y'all're looking for data well-nigh a corporation organized and registered in some other country, contact the regime agency or department that registers corporations in that country.

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• Obtaining a corporation'due south articles of incorporation won't get you contact information for that corporation, such every bit phone numbers or e-mail addresses. For that information, yous typically demand to contact the business directly.^[xx]

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Article Summary 10

When you incorporate a business organisation in the U.s.a., you demand to file manufactures of incorporation. These provide basic information near the business and contact details for the corporation's registered amanuensis. If you need a certified re-create of articles for business organisation or legal reasons, download and fill up out a request class on your secretary of state's website. You'll need to pay a filing fee when you lot submit the form. If you only need an uncertified re-create of your articles of incorporation for your records, you can search for them on your secretary of state's business organisation directory. If they're available, you should exist able to download them. Alternatively, call your secretary of state'due south function for support. For more tips from our Legal co-writer, including how to get a copy of your articles of incorporation by mail, read on!

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