Arizona Articles of Incorporation: Definition, Purpose

What are Arizona Articles of Incorporation?

Arizona articles of incorporation are a legal document that is required to establish a corporation in the state of Arizona. There are several types of business entities to choose from when starting your own company, but a corporation like an S-Corp or a C-Corp offers owners several benefits.

Corporations are considered separate entities from the business owner. That means the owner and any other associated parties, like stockholders and officers, are shielded from most types of liability arising from the business. Corporations also provide owners with various tax benefits and exemptions that other entities do not.

There are several types of corporations in Arizona:

• For-profit corporation
• Nonprofit corporation
• Professional corporation
• Business development corporation
• Close corporation
• Corporate coles

Most corporations fall under the “for-profit” category, but the type of corporation you choose depends on the type of business you are starting.

The primary purpose of articles of incorporation is to establish a company within a state. These articles are used to inform the state about the essential aspects of the business, like who owns the business, the purpose of the business, and the amounts of authorized shares and common stock in the business.

How Do I Find Articles of Incorporation in Arizona?

To find articles of incorporation in Arizona, you can use the search engine located on the Arizona Corporation Commission website. You can search for corporations using the entity name, agent name, principal name, or entity ID. A company’s incorporation articles are available under the “document history” tab.

Searching the corporation database is also a great way to search for already established companies that may have a similar name to your business. Your corporation’s name must be unique, or your application will not be accepted.

Does Arizona Require Articles of Incorporation?

To incorporate a business in Arizona, you must file articles of incorporation and pay a filing fee to the Arizona Corporation Commission. Without this document, you cannot operate your business as a corporation.

Arizona Articles of Incorporation Example

EXAMPLE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF ABC CORPORATION

ARTICLE I: ENTITY NAME The name of the corporation shall be ABC Corporation.

ARTICLE II: CHARACTER OF AFFAIRS The character of affairs for which the corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful business for which corporations may be incorporated under Arizona law.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERS The corporation shall have members.

ARTICLE IV: BUSINESS ADDRESS The principal office of the corporation shall be located at 123 Main Street, Phoenix, AZ 85001.

ARTICLE V: DIRECTORS The number of directors constituting the initial board of directors of the corporation is three, and their names and addresses are as follows:

John Doe, 456 Elm Street, Phoenix, AZ 85002 Jane Smith, 789 Oak Street, Tempe, AZ 85281 Mark Johnson, 321 Maple Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

ARTICLE VI: REGISTERED AGENT The name and address of the corporation’s initial registered agent is:

Samantha Brown, 246 Pine Street, Mesa, AZ 85201

ARTICLE VII: INCORPORATORS The names and addresses of the incorporators are as follows:

John Doe, 456 Elm Street, Phoenix, AZ 85002 Jane Smith, 789 Oak Street, Tempe, AZ 85281 Mark Johnson, 321 Maple Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

ARTICLE VIII: AUTHORIZED SHARES The corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share.

ARTICLE IX: CORPORATION TYPE The corporation is a for-profit corporation.

Signed by the incorporators on this 1st day of January, 2023.

How Do I Fill Out Articles of Incorporation in Arizona?

Arizona articles of incorporation do not have to be complex documents; however, you must supply accurate and complete information otherwise, your application to incorporate may be rejected.

Articles of incorporation must include the following information:

• Entity name. A unique name that follows the naming requirements under Arizona law.
• Character of affairs. A brief description of the purpose of the business.
• Members. Whether the corporation will have members or not.
• Business address. The primary business location must be in Arizona.
• Directors. Names and addresses of all directors.
• Registered agent. The corporation must have a registered agent who is responsible for receiving legal documents on behalf of the corporation.
• Incorporators. The names and addresses of all incorporators.
• Authorized shares. The type and number of authorized shares or stock available to your company.
• Corporation type. Whether the corporation is a for-profit, nonprofit, professional corporation, etc.

The articles of incorporation must be submitted along with a certificate of disclosure, a business cover sheet, and payment for the filing fee.

If you are unsure how to fill out articles of incorporation, it is highly recommended that you consult with an experienced business attorney. An attorney who is familiar with drafting articles of incorporation will be knowledgeable about Arizona laws and can ensure that your incorporation articles include all necessary information.

Relevant Laws

• ARS §10-120 (filing requirements)
• ARS §10-202 (articles of incorporation; violation; classification)
• ARS §10-204 (actions before incorporation; liability)
• ARS §10-124 (correcting filed document; articles of incorporation; authority to transact business)
• ARS §10-1401 (dissolution by incorporators or initial directors)