certificate of formation

A certificate of formation is a legal document that must be filed to legally create a limited liability company (LLC) ; it serves the purpose of proving the company’s establishment, and contains all information about the formation of the company. Each state has its own requirements for forming a limited liability company. In some states, it is filed with the Secretary of State.

A certificate of formation is also known as the articles of organization , and most states do require it. Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Utah require an LLC application as a certificate of organization . Alabama, Delaware, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington require an LLC application as a certificate of formation .

[Last reviewed in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

Keywords

• llcs-corporations-partnerships

Wex

• COMMERCE
• business law
• business organizations
• corporations
• wex definitions
• business sectors