North Dakota Business Corporation Articles Preparation Worksheet
NORTH DAKOTA BUSINESS CORPORATION ARTICLES PREPARATION WORKSHEET
Before you use this: The Secretary of State directs new businesses to Start a Business in FirstStop. Use the completed, reviewed answers below to prepare that filing. This worksheet itself is not filed and does not create a corporation.
1. Corporate name
Proposed legal name: [________________________________]
Under N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-13(1), use a permitted corporate ending and check whether the name is distinguishable in the Secretary of State's records. The Secretary makes the final availability decision.
Alternative name: [________________________________]
2. Initial registered agent
Registered agent's name: [________________________________]
If the agent is noncommercial, its North Dakota address: [________________________________]
Section 10-19.1-10(1)(b) requires the agent's name and the in-state address of a noncommercial registered agent. Confirm the agent's selection before filing.
3. Principal executive office
Address of principal executive office: [________________________________]
Section 10-19.1-10(1)(c) calls for this address in the articles.
4. Authorized shares
Aggregate number of shares the corporation may issue: [________________]
The number belongs in the articles under § 10-19.1-10(1)(d). If the organizers intend multiple classes or different rights, obtain reviewed charter wording before using this basic worksheet.
5. Incorporators
List the name and address of each incorporator under § 10-19.1-10(1)(e). Add rows if needed.
| Incorporator | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| 2 | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| 3 | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
6. Effective date choice
☐ Use the ordinary effective date upon issuance of the certificate of incorporation.
☐ Request a later effective date: [__/__/____].
If a later date is selected, § 10-19.1-10(1)(f) requires it in the articles and limits it to no later than 90 days after the certificate is issued. Section 10-19.1-12 ties the corporation's existence to certificate issuance or the later date stated in the articles.
Optional provision review
Section 10-19.1-10 permits additional provisions and identifies rules that apply unless modified. Record any proposed change here for counsel to draft and check before filing.
Proposed provision or departure from a statutory default: [________________________________]
Reviewed text or attachment reference: [________________________________]
Filing record
☐ I checked the proposed name and the entries above.
☐ I entered the reviewed information through the Secretary of State's FirstStop process.
Date submitted: [__/__/____]
Certificate or filing reference after acceptance: [________________________________]
Under § 10-19.1-11, the Secretary of State issues the certificate of incorporation after the articles conform to law and fees are paid. Keep the issued certificate with the corporation's records.
Official references
About this template
- Last updated
- October 27, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 27, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- North Dakota
- Category
- Corporate & Business
Legal authority
- N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-10(1) (required articles entries)
- N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-11 (filing and certificate)
- N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-12 (effective date)
- N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-13(1) (corporate name)
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 27, 2026.
N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-10(1)(b) (checked October 27, 2026): "The name of the registered agent as provided in chapter 10-01.1"
N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-10(1)(c) (checked October 27, 2026): "The address of the principal executive office."
N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-10(1)(d) (checked October 27, 2026): "The aggregate number of shares that the corporation has authority to issue."
N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-10(1)(e) (checked October 27, 2026): "The name and address of each incorporator."
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