Articles of Incorporation | Legal Documents Generator

Articles of Incorporation

Articles of Incorporation is a legal document filed with state authorities to establish a corporation as a separate legal entity.

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Overview

Articles of Incorporation (also called Certificate of Incorporation or Corporate Charter) is the founding document that establishes your corporation with your state government. This document contains basic information about your corporation, including its name, purpose, registered agent, and stock structure. Filing Articles of Incorporation officially creates your corporation as a legal entity separate from its owners, providing liability protection and establishing the corporation's existence under state law.

Benefits

  • Establishes your business as a legal corporate entity
  • Creates separation between personal and business assets
  • Provides liability protection for shareholders
  • Enables the corporation to issue stock
  • Allows for perpetual existence regardless of ownership changes
  • Creates credibility with customers, vendors, and partners

When to Use

  • When forming a new corporation
  • When converting from another business structure to a corporation
  • When reincorporating in a different state
  • When making fundamental changes to an existing corporation

What's Included

This document template includes the following sections:

  • Corporate Name
  • Corporate Purpose
  • Registered Agent and Office
  • Stock Structure
  • Incorporator Information
  • Director Information
  • Duration of Corporation

How It Works

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Answer Simple Questions

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Review Your Document

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4

Download & File

Download your document and file it with your state's Secretary of State office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Articles of Incorporation is the document filed with the state to create your corporation and contains basic information about the company. Bylaws, on the other hand, are internal documents that outline how the corporation will be governed. While Articles are filed with the state, Bylaws are kept internally and provide more detailed operational guidelines.

Filing fees vary by state, typically ranging from $50 to $300. Some states also charge additional fees based on the number of authorized shares. Our document creation process provides state-specific filing information, including current fees and where to file your Articles of Incorporation.

A registered agent is a person or entity designated to receive legal documents, government correspondence, and compliance documents on behalf of your corporation. Every corporation must have a registered agent with a physical address (not a P.O. box) in the state where it's incorporated. The registered agent ensures your corporation receives important legal and tax documents and helps maintain your good standing with the state.

Processing times vary by state, typically ranging from 1-3 weeks for standard filing. Most states offer expedited processing for an additional fee, which can reduce the time to 1-3 business days. Once approved, you'll receive a stamped copy of your Articles of Incorporation or a Certificate of Incorporation from the state.

Yes, you can amend your Articles of Incorporation after filing by submitting Articles of Amendment to your state's business filing office. Common amendments include changing the corporate name, altering the number of authorized shares, or modifying the corporate purpose. Most amendments require board approval and, in some cases, shareholder approval before filing with the state.

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