Maine Articles of Incorporation
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What Are Maine 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: | Maine Secretary of State - Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or in-person |
| Agency Fee: | $145 + optional $50-100 expedite fee |
| Turnaround: | ~14 business days. ~24 hours for $50 expedite fee. Immediately for $100 expedite fee. |
| Law: | Maine Revised Statues - Title 13-C: Maine Business Corporation Act |
| Notes: | When filing by mail, include the filer contact cover form. See optional provisions. |
Other Helpful Maine Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Maine.
Maine Directors
- Number: One of more required.
- Qualifications: None.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws fix a different number. No less than one third.
Maine Officers
- As stated in the bylaws, but a minimum of one. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.
Maine Bylaws
- Required: Yes.
Maine Annual Shareholder Meeting
- Required: Yes, unless directors are elected by written consent.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if by all shareholders entitled to vote on the action. Bylaws may provide if enough shareholders consent to equal the number required to take action by vote.
Maine Shareholders
- Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Not required.
- Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.
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