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State Guide: Articles of Incorporation

Articles of Incorporation Overview 

There a number of compelling reasons to incorporate your small business: to issue stock, to protect personal assets from business liability, to obtain tax benefits, the list goes on and on. While incorporating may be more expensive to establish than a sole proprietorship or partnership, business owners enjoy limited liability for the business's debts, judgments and other liabilities. 

If you are considering incorporating your small business, you'll need to know the laws and procedures in the state in which you intend to incorporate. While speaking to an attorney is always a good first step, educating yourself on your state's rules is equally important. 

Below are forms for Articles of Incorporation (for a domestic corporation) for each of the 50 states and Washington, DC. A complete set of business organization forms can be found here.

Note: Most of the documents listed below are in PDF format.

Alabama Articles of Incorporation
Alaska Articles of Incorporation
Arkansas Articles of Incorporation
Arizona Articles of Incorporation
California Organization of California Stock Corporations

(includes instructions and articles of incorporation)

Colorado Articles of Incorporation
Connecticut Certificate of Incorporation
Delaware Certificate of Incorporation
DC Articles of Incorporation Guidelines
Florida Articles of Incorporation

(includes instructions)

Georgia Corporation Filing Procedures

(includes guidelines and sample articles of incorporation)

Hawaii Articles of Incorporation

(Form DC-1)

Idaho Articles of Incorporation
Illinois Articles of Incorporation
Indiana Articles of Incorporation
Iowa Articles of Incorporation

(guidelines only)

Kansas Articles of Incorporation
Kentucky Articles of Incorporation
Louisiana Articles of Incorporation

(with transmittal form)

Maine Articles of Incorporation
Maryland Articles of Incorporation for a Stock Corporation
Massachusetts Articles of Organization
Michigan Articles of Incorporation
Minnesota Articles of Incorporation
Mississippi Articles of Incorporation
Missouri Articles of Incorporation

(including instruction sheet)

Montana Articles of Incorporation
Nebraska Filing Articles of Incorporation

(guidelines only; no sample)

Nevada Articles of Incorporation
New Hampshire Articles of Incorporation

(includes instructions)

New Jersey Articles of Incorporation
New Mexico Articles of Incorporation
New York Certificate of Incorporation
North Carolina Articles of Incorporation
North Dakota Articles of Incorporation
Ohio Initial Articles of Incorporation
Oklahoma Certificate of Incorporation

(includes instructions)

Oregon Articles of Incorporation
Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation
Rhode Island Articles of Incorporation
South Carolina Articles of Incorporation
South Dakota Articles of Incorporation
Tennessee Charter / Articles of Incorporation
Texas Articles of Incorporation

(includes instructions)

Utah Articles of Incorporation
Vermont Articles of Incorporation
Virginia Articles of Incorporation
West Virginia Articles of Incorporation
Washington Application to Form a Corporation

(includes Articles of Incorporation)

Wisconsin Articles of Incorporation
Wyoming Articles of Incorporation

How a Lawyer Can Help

The laws of incorporation can be complicated. As a busy entrepreneur, you likely wear many hats, but being a lawyer may not be one of them. If you have legal questions about how to file articles of incorporation in your state, let a legal expert take the wheel. Speak to business and commercial law attorney in your jurisdiction today to learn more.

Additional Resources

 

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