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.

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

• Hiring Legal Help with Business Formation;
• Business Structures: Which One is Best for Your Business;
• Benefits and Drawbacks of Different Types of Business Entities.