West Virginia Articles of Incorporation
West Virginia articles of incorporation are filed to create a corporation.
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.
Benefits
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: | West Virginia Secretary of State - Business and Licensing Division |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $100 ($30 tax registration fee also applies if filed online) |
| Law: | West Virginia Code - Chapter 31D: West Virginia Business Corporation Act |
| Notes: |
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Other Helpful West Virginia Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to West Virginia.
West Virginia Directors
- Number: One or more required.
- Qualifications: None.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws or articles of incorporations fix a different number. No less than one third.
West Virginia Officers
- As provided in the bylaws.
West Virginia Bylaws
- Required: Yes.
West Virginia Annual Shareholder Meeting
- Required: Yes.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if consent is unanimous among all entitled to vote on the action.
West Virginia Shareholders
- Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Optional, but shareholder must receive a writing with the same information.
- Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.
