California Corporations Laws

California Code - Division 1: General Corporation Law

Formation

One or more natural persons, partnerships, associations or corporations may form a corporation under California corporate laws by executing and filing articles of incorporation. If initial directors are named in the articles, each director named in the articles must sign and acknowledge the articles

Articles of Incorporation

The articles of incorporation must set forth:

• The name of the corporation;

• The purpose of the corporation;

• The name and street address in this state of the corporation's initial agent for service of process;

• The initial street address of the corporation;

• The initial mailing address of the corporation, if different from the initial street address;

• If the corporation is authorized to issue only one class of shares, the total number of shares which the corporation is authorized to issue;

• If the corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of shares, or if any class of shares is to have two or more series: (1) The total number of shares of each class the corporation is authorized to issue, (2) The designation of each class, and (3) The rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the respective classes.

Corporation Name

The name of the corporation must contain the word "corporation," "incorporated," or "limited" or an abbreviation of one of those words.

Purpose

The purpose is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under California corporations laws. Also, the purpose of the corporation can be to engage in a profession permitted to be incorporated by the California Corporations Code.

Fees

In order to file forms with the secretary of state, incorporators must pay filing fees. These fees are posted online and are subject to change.