The Articles of Incorporation (also known as the Certificate of Incorporation in Delaware) are the basic regulations that govern the operation of a company. The articles of incorporation are submitted with the state where the company was founded.
The regulations for Articles of Incorporation differ by state, however the following are some basic criteria for topics that should be included on every corporation’s Articles of Formation:
The phrases incorporate, corporation, limited, or any abbreviation must appear in the corporation’s name.
Stock versus non-stock: whether or not the company issues stock certificates. Stock companies must also state how many shares they are permitted to issue.
The name of the person or people who organize the company is known as the incorporator.
Board of Directors: the names and contact information for the board of directors.
The name of the incorporator, registered agent, or attorney who has been selected as the first director.
Registered Agent or Registered Office: the place where legal documents may be served on the company.
