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articles of incorporation :: legal definition


Articles of incorporation - n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells out the name, basic purpose, incorporators, amount and types of stock which may be issued, and any special characteristics such as being non-profit. Each state has its own system of approval of articles, prohibits names which are confusingly similar to those of existing corporations (so an incorporator can test the name by applying to reserve the name), sets specific requirements for non-profits (charitable, religious, educational, public benefit, and so forth), and regulates the issuance of shares of stock. Articles must be signed by the incorporating person or persons or by the first board of directors. Major stock issuances require application to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The starting point for filing and approval of articles of incorporation is usually the state's Secretary of State. There will be a fee and, often, a deposit of an estimated first year's taxes.

See also: corporation and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
account stated :: n. a statement between a creditor or the person to ... ending on the state. See also: debt
acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
agent for acceptance of service :: n. states require that a corporation name an actua ... corporations. See also: corporation
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
blue sky laws :: n. laws intended to protect the public from purcha ... e sky." See also: corporation stock
bond :: n. 1) written evidence of debt issued by a company ... good up to the amount of the bond.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
caption :: n. the first section of any written legal pleading ... to the exact format of the caption.
certificate of incorporation :: n. document which some states issue to prove a cor ... the articles are sufficient proof.
chattel mortgage :: n. an outmoded written document which made a chatt ... ed by the property. See also: UCC-1
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
claim against an estate :: n. upon the death of a person and beginning of pro ... ade to the heirs. See also: probate
common law :: n. the traditional unwritten law of England, based ... plied without reference to statute.
common stock :: n. stock in a corporation in which dividends (payo ... oration preferred stock share stock
company :: n. any formal business entity for profit, which ma ... s a corporation. See also: business
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
disinherit :: v. to intentionally take actions to guarantee that ... rorem clause pretermitted heir will
dissolution of corporation :: n. termination of a corporation, either a) volunta ... e government. See also: corporation
dividend :: n. a portion of profit, usually based on the numbe ... . See also: corporation shareholder
divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support
doing business :: v. carrying on the normal activities of a corporat ... oration operating within the state.
domicile :: n. the place where a person has his/her permanent ... where its headquarters is located.
double jeopardy :: n. placing someone on trial a second time for an o ... that occurred thirty years earlier.
equal opportunity :: 1) n. a right supposedly guaranteed by both federa ... be so. See also: affirmative action
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
estate :: n. 1) all that one owns in real estate and other a ... ife estate probate real estate will
executor :: n. the person appointed to administer the estate o ... sed decedent executrix probate will
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
fair comment :: n. a statement of opinion (no matter how ludicrous ... amation libel public figure slander
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
fiduciary :: 1) n. from the Latin fiducia, meaning "trust," a p ... lation fiduciary relationship trust
foreign corporation :: n. a corporation which is incorporated under the l ... tate or Whoopee's designated agent.
grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance.
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
hit and run :: n. the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is invol ... , and then walks back to the scene.
incorporate :: v. 1) to obtain an official charter or articles of ... te by reference incorporation stock
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
interrogatories :: n. a set of written questions to a party to a laws ... ing. See also: deposition discovery
invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy
issue :: 1) n. a person's children or other lineal descenda ... the body incorporation share stock
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
marriage :: n. the joining of a male and female in matrimony b ... of time without legal formalities.
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
non-profit corporation :: n. an organization incorporated under state laws a ... harity corporation cy pres doctrine
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary.
notice to quit :: n. the notice given by a landlord (owner) to a ten ... h-to-month notice unlawful detainer
offshore corporation :: n. a corporation chartered under the laws of a cou ... nds in accounts out of the country.
partnership :: n. a business enterprise entered into for profit w ... partnership partner silent partner
person :: n. 1) a human being. 2) a corporation treated as h ... amages. See also: corporation party
preemptive right :: n. the right of a shareholder in a corporation to ... also: corporation shareholder stock
preferred stock :: n. a class of shares of stock in a corporation whi ... on stock corporation dividend stock
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
promotional stock :: n. stock issued in a newly formed corporation and ... assets or money. See also: promoter
property :: n. anything that is owned by a person or entity. P ... rty real property separate property
prospectus :: n. a detailed statement by a corporation required ... rporation limited partnership stock
remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement
seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today.
securities :: n. generic term for shares of stock, bonds and deb ... ee also: bond debenture share stock
security deposit :: n. a payment required by a landlord from a tenant ... lso: landlord and tenant lease rent
self-dealing :: n. in the stock market, using secret "inside" info ... ederal Securities and Exchange Act.
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
share :: n. 1) a portion of a benefit from a trust, estate, ... n issue of the corporation's stock.
shareholder :: n. the owner of one or more shares of stock in a c ... : corporation shareholders' meeting
state action :: n. in federal Civil Rights Acts, dating back to 18 ... for damages. See also: civil rights
state of domicile :: n. the state in which a person has his/her permane ... orated. See also: domicile resident
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
stock certificate :: n. printed document which states the name, incorpo ... . See also: corporation share stock
subchapter S corporation :: n. the choice by a small corporation to be treated ... ing attorney. See also: corporation
subpena duces tecum :: : (suh-pea-nah dooh-chess-take-uhm or dooh-kess-ta ... ng a court order. See also: witness
substituted service :: n. accomplishing service (delivery) of legal docum ... ee also: service service of process
transfer agent :: n. a person or company retained by a corporation t ... stockbroker. See also: share stock
treasury stock :: n. stock of a private corporation which was issued ... be entitled. See also: share stock
unissued stock :: n. a corporation's shares of stock which are autho ... poration share stock treasury stock
watered stock :: n. shares of stock of a corporation which have bee ... . See also: corporation share stock
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
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testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - A

a fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.
a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain.
a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod."
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement
abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal
abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot."
absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition.
abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court.
abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien