Articles of incorporation are the formal formation document filed to create a corporation under state law.
Why It Matters
This document matters because it gives the corporation legal existence. It usually identifies core formation details such as the entity name, purpose, registered agent, and share structure.
Where It Appears
Articles of incorporation appear in entity formation, compliance review, business transactions, corporate disputes, and litigation about whether the business was properly organized.
Practical Example
A founder files articles of incorporation with the state to form a new company. That filing is the legal step that brings the corporation into existence.
How It Differs From Nearby Terms
Articles of incorporation are the public formation filing. Bylaws are the corporation’s internal operating rules. An operating agreement plays a similar governance role for an LLC rather than a corporation.
Related Terms
Knowledge Check
- What do articles of incorporation do? They create the corporation as a legal entity under state law.
- How are they different from bylaws? Articles of incorporation are the formation filing, while bylaws govern internal corporate procedure.