Articles of Incorporation Template

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The articles of Incorporation are used when you want to create a corporation officially. They form the foundation of your business by outlining its purpose, structure, and authority. This document is filed with the government to establish your corporation as a separate legal entity from its owners. You can create your own articles of Incorporation on Lawrina and use the professionally prepared document in any situation.
Paper titled "Articles of Incorporation"; man shaking hands with a woman near the desk

An article of incorporation template is an easy and reliable way to start your corporation. The template helps you include all the important details, like your business name, address, and who will be in charge. It makes sure you don’t miss anything important and saves you time. With the article of incorporation sample, you can quickly file the document with the government and get your corporation set up correctly.

When To Use the Articles of Incorporation Template

You can file articles of incorporation template free of charge if you’re planning to:

  • Start a corporation. Whether it's for a small business or a large company, the articles of incorporation example is required to officially create a corporation.

  • Formalize your business structure. If you’re changing your business from a sole proprietorship or partnership to a corporation, the articles of incorporation samples are essential.

  • Secure funding or investment. Investors or banks often require blank articles of incorporation to verify that your business is legally recognized.

How To Fill in Your Article of Incorporation Form: Step-by-Step

With Lawrina, you can easily complete the sample articles of incorporation using an interactive interview system, where you only need to answer guided questions. This makes the process simple and efficient. 

We’ve also created a step-by-step guide with the example of articles of incorporation to help you understand how to fill out the document if you prefer to do it manually.

1. Choose a name for your corporation

free articles of incorporation
  • Fill in the name of the corporation in the first blank field. The name should be unique and not too similar to other corporations in your state. Make sure it follows your state's naming rules.
Example:

"Tech Innovations Inc."

  • Indicate the state where the corporation is being established.
Example:

"…under the laws of the State of California."

2. Provide the corporation’s address

free articles of incorporation template
  • Provide the name of your corporation for the second time. If you fill it out with Lawrina, the system will make it automatic.
  • Add the corporation’s address — this is the physical location where the corporation is based, which may be different from your business's operational address.
Example:

"The street adress of the initial registered office of the Corporation is 123 Business Blvd, Suite 100, San Francisco, CA."

3. Add registered agent information

articles of incorporation template
  • Fill in the name of the registered agent. This person or company will receive legal and official documents on behalf of the corporation.
  • Provide the address of the registered agent, which must be within the state of incorporation.
Example:

"Registered Agent. The name of the initial registered agent is George Muller. The registered agent’s address is 456 Market Street, San Francisco, CA."

4. List the directors

article of incorporation template
  • Include the names and addresses of the individuals who will serve as the initial directors of your corporation. 
Example:

 "Maria Smith, an individual having their usual place of living at 23 Sunny Blvd, San Francisco, CA."

5. Sign and file the articles of incorporation form

articles of incorporation sample

To fill out this blank section of the simple articles of incorporation, follow these steps:

  • Incorporator's name. Write the full name of the person who is signing the Articles of Incorporation. This person is responsible for starting the corporation.
  • Incorporator's address. Provide the full address where the incorporator lives, including the street, city, state, and zip code.
  • Date of execution. Write the date when the incorporator is signing the Articles of Incorporation.
  • Signature. The incorporator must sign their name in the space provided.

Example:

"... John Miller, an individual having their usual place of living at 123 Business Blvd, San Francisco, CA.

Signature: [John Miller’s Signature]

Date: [Date of Signing]"