Delaware Articles of Incorporation
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What Are Delaware Articles of Incorporation?
Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your business corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the corporation. Only after this approval can the corporation apply for tax IDs, obtain business licenses, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.
Incorporating provides many important benefits:
- Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
- Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
- Provides governance and adds credibility
Fast Facts
For Domestic Corporations:
| Agency: | Delaware Department of State - Division of Corporations |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail, fax, or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $109 + $9 for extra pages + optional $50-$1000 expedite fee |
| Turnaround: | ~3 weeks. ~24 hours for $50 state expedite fee. Same-day for $100 state expedite fee. ~2 hours for $500 state expedite fee. 1 hour for $1000 state expedite fee. |
| Law: | |
| Notes: | Include a cover letter. |
For Domestic Close Corporations:
| Agency: | Delaware Department of State - Division of Corporations |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail, fax, or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $109 + $9 for extra pages + optional $50-$1000 expedite fee |
Other Helpful Delaware Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Delaware.
Delaware Directors
- Number: One or more required.
- Qualifications: Natural person.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws fix a different number. No less than one third.
Delaware Officers
- As stated in the bylaws. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.
Delaware Bylaws
- Required: No.
Delaware Annual Shareholder Meeting
- Required: Yes, unless directors are elected by written consent.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if enough shareholders consent to equal the number required to take action by vote.
Delaware Shareholders
- Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Not required.
- Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.
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