Articles of Incorporation

The Articles of Incorporation document, sometimes called a corporate charter, is used to incorporate a business with a specific state. The specific articles included in this document varies by state, but the following articles are typically included:

• The name of the corporation
  
• The name and address of the registered agent and this person's office address
  
• The specific type of corporation (stock corporation, non-stock corporation, non-profit corporation, etc.) and the purpose(s) for which the corporation was formed.
  
• The names and addresses of the initial directors
  
• The name and address of the incorporator (the person preparing the incorporation documents)
• The duration of the corporation, either perpetual or for a fixed period of time
  
• For a stock corporation, the authority of the corporation for an initial issue of a specific number of shares of stock and the price of those shares.

The Articles of Incorporation are filed with the office of the Secretary of State for your state.