How to Obtain Articles of Incorporation

Many businesses choose to incorporate for reasons including tax breaks, limited liability and estate planning. To establish an organization as a legal corporation, you must file a legal document with your state. This official document is known as the "Articles of Incorporation" and is available for both for-profit and non-profit corporations.

Things You'll Need

• Articles of Incorporation form

Instructions

1. Go to the National Association of Secretaries of States website (see References). Click on "Secretaries of State," then the name of your state. You will be directed to your state's site.

2. Look for the section offering business services. Depending on your state, this may be listed as "Businesses," "Business Services," "Business Center," "Corporations" or a similar title.

3. Find the downloadable forms area. Select the form appropriate for your organization: For-Profit Articles of Incorporation or Non-Profit Articles of Incorporation. Download the form.

4. Fill out the form, which will ask you for information such as the new corporation's name and address, the incorporators of the corporation, purpose of the corporation, the name and address of your corporation's registered agent and stock information for your corporation.

5. File the completed Article of Incorporation with the required filing fee (typically $35 to $100) through your Secretary of State's office.

Tips & Warnings

• Most Secretaries of State websites have pre-printed articles of incorporation forms that can be completed quickly. In some states, the Articles of Incorporation filing fees are lower for non-profit corporations than for-profit corporations.

References

• National Association of Secretaries of State
• Writing and Filing the Articles of Incorporation