Free sample articles of incorporation can be found online if you know where to look. I have located them for you. You can view and print articles and forms for corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships (LPs) and other professional and business entities. Official government agency forms and instructions include (where available):
Sample articles of incorporation and certificates to file and create a new company
For existing companies:
Articles of Amendment
Articles of Dissolution
Change of Resident Agent
Annual reports
Certificates of Existence
Foreign Company Registration
Assumed/Fictitious Business Name Applications
Guidelines
Filing Fee Schedules
Much more....
Below is a list of all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. Under each listing are QuickLinks to an official state agency webpage that contain sample articles of incorporation and forms with instructions.
Most state agencies provide at least a downloadable PDF file of their sample articles of incorporation or other business entity creation forms (e.g. certificate of incorporation, articles of existence, articles of organization, certificate of formation, etc.). Filing instructions and fee schedules usually accompany the sample articles of incorporation or are linked to another page on the agency's website.
Some states also support online filing, usually in real time. In those cases, you can complete "fields" on an online form, then submit your articles with a credit card payment for the filing fee. An online filing confirmation or tracking number along with your receipt may be immediately presented on your screen for printing, or in some cases they are emailed to you. Sometimes you must register to use the online services. This appears to be so the filing agency may contact you in the event there is any problem with your online filing, or perhaps in case there may be future corporation compliance issues. In the case of Florida, you enter your name and email address into fields on the online articles form. According to Florida's Online Filing Disclaimer this information "will be made part of the public record...will be available on the Division of Corporation's website for public view."
Also with each state listing is a link to the state's general corporation laws.
ARKANSAS Business Entity Forms Online Services Arkansas Code, Title 4 "Business and Commercial Law", Subtitle 3 "Corporations and Associations", Chapters 25 – 33. To Get there, go to ARKLEG (Arkansas Legislature) and do an "All" query for the term "Corporations and Associations". From the results, select #14 "Title 4 Business and Commercial Law", then select "Subtitle 3 Corporations and Associations".
COLORADO Forms List Online Services Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 7 "Corporations and Associations". To get there, go to Michie's Legal Resources, select "Colorado Revised Statutes", then select again "Colorado Revised Statutes", then select "Title 7 Corporations and Associations".
HAWAII Online Filing is available through Hawai'i Business Express; however, you must first create an account to access and file forms with the Business Registration Division. Hawaii Business Corporation Act,click on HRS Chapter 414
NEW MEXICO Corporation Forms New Mexico Statutes, Chapter 53 Corporations. To get there, go to the New Mexico Statutes and Court Rules, on the left select the folder "New Mexico Statutes and Court Rules", then select the folder "Statutory Chapters in New Mexico Statutes", then select "Chapter 53 Corporations".
OKLAHOMA Business Forms Online Services are fee based via Sooner Access Oklahoma Statutes, Title 18. To get there, go to the Oklahoma Legislature, select "Oklahoma Statutes & Constitution", then select "Oklahoma Statutes - Titles 1–85", then select "Title 18. Corporations"
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS No sample articles of incorporation or forms available
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