How Do I Get a Copy of the Articles of Incorporation?

A company's articles of incorporation is the document a business must file with the state, in order to operate in corporate form. Many states require businesses to include information such as the number of shares the company can issue, as well as the legal name and address of the business, in its articles of incorporation. A business may be required to present copies of its articles of incorporation to open a business bank account, or to operate outside of the company's state of incorporation.

Contact the Department of State or Secretary of State's office where your business filed its articles of incorporation. In many instances, the Secretary of State's office allows businesses to request a copy of their articles of incorporation by phone, or in person. In some instances, a request for copies of incorporation may be initiated by fax, email, or by writing the Secretary of State or Department of State's office.

Supply the corporation's legal business name, as well as the year the company became incorporated. Provide information such as the mailing address where the copy of your company's articles of incorporation should be sent. If you're sending a fax request, provide a return fax number and contact name.

Pay for your copies. The cost for a copy of your company's articles of incorporation may vary depending on the state of incorporation. In states like New Hampshire, a copy of your company's articles of incorporation may be sent free of charge, as long as the articles of incorporation are 20 pages or less. The time frame to receive a copy of your articles of incorporation will vary according to the state where your business is incorporated.

Contact the third party service, or incorporator, that completed and filed your articles of incorporation. In most cases, you'll be charged a fee by the third party service in order to obtain a copy of your company's articles of incorporation.