District of Columbia Business Corporation Articles of Incorporation — DBU-1 Preparation Worksheet
District of Columbia Business Corporation Articles of Incorporation — DBU-1 Preparation Worksheet
Use this worksheet to prepare the District of Columbia Corporations Division's Form DBU-1. Transfer the answers to the current official form or BOSS filing process and submit that filing to the Division. This worksheet itself is not the articles of incorporation.
This worksheet covers an ordinary domestic for-profit corporation with one proposed share class. A benefit or professional corporation, or a corporation with multiple share classes, needs additional drafting and review.
1. Corporation name
Proposed name: [________________________________]
Entity ending in the proposed name (for example, Inc. or Corp.): [____________]
Alternate name if the first is unavailable: [________________________________]
Check that the name is distinguishable in the District's records and includes a business-corporation ending. D.C. Code §§ 29-103.01, 29-103.02(a).
2. Authorized shares
Number of shares the corporation will be authorized to issue: [____________]
One proposed share class and its designation, if any: [________________________________]
Par value per share, if one is chosen: $[____________] ☐ No par value specified
Record the number of authorized shares on DBU-1. Its instructions also ask for par value and say the filing fee varies with the number of authorized shares. Review the current fee schedule before submitting.
3. Registered agent
Choose the agent arrangement to enter on the official filing:
☐ Commercial registered agent — name: [________________________________]
Commercial agent's District address for DBU-1: [________________________________]
☐ Noncommercial registered agent — name: [________________________________]
Noncommercial agent's District address: [________________________________]
☐ Corporation officer or employee designated to accept service — position title: [________________________________]
That person's District business-office address: [________________________________]
Commercial or noncommercial agent's consent confirmed by: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]
The designation must supply the information for the chosen agent type. For a commercial or noncommercial agent, the entity's designation affirms that the agent consented to serve. D.C. Code § 29-104.04.
4. Incorporators
| Incorporator | Name | Address | Signature and date for official filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [________________] | [________________] | [________________] |
| 2, if any | [________________] | [________________] | [________________] |
| Additional, if any | [________________] | [________________] | [________________] |
The articles identify each incorporator by name and address. Confirm who will sign the official filing and state each signer's name and capacity there. D.C. Code §§ 29-302.02(a)(4), 29-102.01(a)(4)-(5).
5. Ownership and control information for the official registration
List each person who directly or indirectly owns more than 10 percent of a governance or distribution interest. Also list a person at or below that percentage who controls financial or operational decisions or directs day-to-day operations. Record both residence and business addresses for each listed person. D.C. Code § 29-102.01(a)(6).
| Person and role | Ownership percentage or control basis | Residence address | Business address |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________] | [________________] | [________________] | [________________] |
| [________________] | [________________] | [________________] | [________________] |
| [________________] | [________________] | [________________] | [________________] |
If a listed owner is a foreign entity, identify the people behind that entity who meet the same ownership or control criteria. D.C. Code § 29-102.01(a)(7). Attach a separate sheet for additional people.
6. Optional provisions to review before filing
☐ Initial directors: [NAMES AND ADDRESSES, IF TO BE INCLUDED]
☐ A specific corporate purpose: [________________________________]
☐ Other provision reviewed by counsel: [________________________________]
These items are optional under D.C. Code § 29-302.02(b). Do not add director-liability, indemnity, or special share-class terms without tailored legal review.
7. Transfer to the official filing
☐ Open the official Form DBU-1 and instructions and check the current registration page.
☐ Enter the name, authorized shares, agent designation, incorporators, and ownership/control information from this worksheet.
☐ Complete any applicable optional provisions on the official filing.
☐ Check the current filing fee and submit through BOSS or the agency's current permitted filing route.
☐ Keep the submitted official articles and the filing confirmation with the corporation's records.
Sources and References
About this template
- Last updated
- October 29, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 29, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- District of Columbia
- Category
- Corporate & Business
Legal authority
- D.C. Code § 29-302.02
- D.C. Code § 29-102.01(a)
- D.C. Code § 29-104.04
- D.C. Code § 29-103.01
- D.C. Code § 29-103.02(a)
Corporate documents govern how a company makes decisions, records them, and handles disputes between owners, directors, and officers. Proper corporate paperwork is what lets a business take advantage of limited liability, pass clean audits, and survive an acquisition or investor review. Skipping formalities like written resolutions and signed consents is one of the fastest ways for a business owner to lose personal asset protection.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 29, 2026.
D.C. Code § 29-302.02 (checked October 29, 2026): "The articles of incorporation shall set forth: (1) A corporate name for the corporation that satisfies §§ 29-103.01 and 29-103.02(a) ; (2) The number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue; (3) The information required by § 29-104.04 ; and (4) The name and address of each incorporator."
D.C. Code § 29-102.01(a)(6)-(7) (checked October 29, 2026): "For entity registration filings made on or after January 1, 2020, the filing shall state the names, residence and business addresses of each person whose aggregate share of direct or indirect, legal or beneficial ownership of a governance or total distributional interest of the entity: (A) Exceeds 10%; or (B) Does not exceed 10%; provided, that the person: (i) Controls the financial or operational decisions of the entity; or (ii) Has the ability to direct the day-to-day operations of the entity. (7) The entity registration filing shall state, for each foreign entity that is identified pursuant to paragraph (6) of this subsection, the names, residence and business addresses of each person whose aggregate share of direct or indirect, legal or beneficial ownership of a governance or total distributional interest of the foreign entity: (A) Exceeds 10%; or (B) Does not exceed 10%; provided, that the person: (i) Controls the financial or operational decisions of the foreign entity; or (ii) Has the ability to direct the day-to-day operations of the foreign entity."
D.C. Code § 29-104.04 (checked October 29, 2026): "A registered agent filing shall be signed by the entity and state: (1) The name of the represented entity’s commercial registered agent; or (2) If the entity does not have a commercial registered agent: (A) The name and address of the entity’s noncommercial registered agent; or (B) If the entity designates an officer or employee to accept service of process, the title of the office or other position and the address of the business office of that person. (b) The designation of a registered agent pursuant to subsection (a)(1) or (2)(A) of this section shall be an affirmation under § 29-102.09 by the represented entity that the agent has consented to serve."
D.C. Code § 29-103.01 (checked October 29, 2026): "Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (d) of this section, the name of a domestic entity, and the name under which a foreign filing entity or foreign limited liability partnership may register to do business in the District, shall be distinguishable on the records of the Mayor from any: (1) Name of another domestic filing entity or limited liability partnership; (2) Name of a foreign entity that is registered to do business in the District under subchapter V of this chapter ; (3) Name that is reserved under § 29-103.03 ; (4) Name that is registered under § 29-103.04 ; or (5) Assumed name registered under subchapter I-C of Chapter 28 of Title 47 ."
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