Definition

Noun: - A formal legal document filed with a government authority to legally form a corporation: This document establishes the corporation's basic existence and structure, including its official name, purpose, type and number of authorized shares, and the names of its initial directors or incorporators. It is governed by the laws of the state or jurisdiction where it is filed.

Usage

• The "articles of incorporation" are the foundational charter of a corporation. They are required to be filed (typically with a state's Secretary of State office) to bring the corporation into legal existence.
• This term is used in formal, legal, and business contexts. It is a standard, fixed phrase.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To file articles of incorporation": The act of submitting this document to the appropriate government agency to officially create the corporation.
  • The founders will file the articles of incorporation with the state next week.
• The "articles of incorporation" are sometimes referred to as a "corporate charter" or "certificate of incorporation" in certain jurisdictions, though there can be subtle legal distinctions.

Variants and Related Words

• Bylaws (n): The internal rules and procedures for governing the corporation, created after the articles of incorporation are filed. The bylaws address the day-to-day operations, while the articles establish its fundamental structure.
• Certificate of Incorporation (n): Often used synonymously, this is the document issued by the state agency it approves the filed articles of incorporation, certifying the corporation's legal formation.

Synonyms

• Corporate charter
• Certificate of incorporation (in common usage)

Related Phrases

• "Amend the articles of incorporation": To make a formal, legally filed change to the original document.
  • The shareholders voted to amend the articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares.

Noun

1. a legal document that creates a corporation; it is filed with a state by the founders of a corporation and is governed by the laws of the state