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State Guide: Corporations Offices

Whether you are choosing to incorporate in Delaware, Alaska, or California, at some point your new business entity will have to interact with that state's corporate office. While most state's do not require residency in order to incorporate there, most require every corporation, limited liability company (LLC) or other business entity to have and maintain a registered agent to transact business.

State Corporate Offices

Each state has an office that is responsible for regulating the business activities of companies which are incorporated or do business within that state. Many states have a Business Entities Office which regulates all types of businesses including corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and general partnerships.

The corporation section of a particular state also manages certain Uniform Commercial Code filings (UCC), and can be directly involved with helping victims of corporate fraud or theft. If your business has a trademark, this will also be the office you contact to file and process all trademark paperwork. If you are starting a new business and want to see if the name is available, most state corporate offices have a business entity name locator or other resources.

Below are links to the Corporations section of the state government in each of the 50 states and Washington, DC. A link to the Secretary of State's office is provided if a link to the Corporations section isn't available. To suggest an item for this section, please contact us.

Alabama

Business Services

Alaska

Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing

Arkansas

Business / Commercial Services

Arizona

Corporation Commission

California

Business Portal

Colorado

Business Center

Connecticut

Commercial Recording Division

Delaware

Division of Corporations

DC

Corporations Division

Florida

Division of Corporations

Georgia

Corporations Division

Hawaii

Business Registration Division

Idaho

Business Entities Division

Illinois

Business Services Department

Indiana

Corporations Division

Iowa

Business Services Division

Kansas

Business Entities

Kentucky

Business Services

Louisiana

Business Services

Maine

Division of Corporations

Maryland

Businesses - Taxpayer Services

Massachusetts

Corporations Divisions

Michigan

Business Portal

Minnesota

Business Services

Mississippi

Business Services

Missouri

Business Portal

Montana

Business Services

Nebraska

Business Services

Nevada

Commercial Recordings Division

New Hampshire

Corporation Division

New Jersey

Business Gateway

New Mexico

Corporations Bureau

New York

Division of Corporations

North Carolina

Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code

North Dakota

Business Registrations

Ohio

Business Services

Oklahoma

Business Services

Oregon

Corporation Division

Pennsylvania

Corporation Bureau

Rhode Island

Corporations Division

South Carolina

Business Filings

South Dakota

Corporations

Tennessee

Division of Business Services

Texas

Corporations Section

Utah

Division of Corporations and Commercial Code

Vermont

Corporations

Virginia

Business Information Center

West Virginia

Business Organizations

Washington

Corporations Division

Wisconsin

Corporations

Wyoming

Corporations Division

Additional Resources

Get Legal Help With Your Business Needs

As you are forming your new business, you'll want to ensure you are filing all the correct paperwork and complying with your state's business laws and regulations. Speak with a trained legal professional in your area today. Contact a local business law attorney today and learn how they can help you communicate with the business office in your state.

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