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What Are Articles of Organization?

Written byRegistryWise Editorial TeamFact-checked against official sources · How we research

The short answer

Articles of organization are the document you file with a state to create an LLC. Once the state accepts them, the LLC legally exists. Some states call the same form a certificate of formation or a certificate of organization.

Also called: Certificate of formation, Certificate of organization, Articles of incorporation (for corporations)

On this page
  1. What goes in them
  2. After you file
  3. By state

What goes in them

The form is short. Most states ask for the LLC's name, its registered agent and address, a mailing or principal address, and who is organizing it. Some also ask whether members or managers will run it, or for a purpose statement.

The articles don't cover how the LLC is run day to day. That belongs in an operating agreement, which you keep yourself and usually don't file.

After you file

The state reviews the filing, and if the name is available and the form is complete, it approves it and gives the LLC a file or document number. That number, and the filed articles, become part of the public record you can look up on the state's business search.

Corporations file a similar document, usually called articles of incorporation or a certificate of incorporation.

The form name and state fee in each state

StateForm to create an LLCState fee
AlabamaCertificate of Formation$200
AlaskaArticles of Organization$250
ArizonaArticles of Organization$50
ArkansasCertificate of Organization$45
CaliforniaArticles of Organization$70
ColoradoArticles of Organization$50
ConnecticutCertificate of Organization$120
DelawareCertificate of Formation$110
District of ColumbiaArticles of Organization$99
FloridaArticles of Organization$125
GeorgiaArticles of Organization$110
HawaiiArticles of Organization$50
IdahoCertificate of Organization$100
IllinoisArticles of Organization$150
IndianaArticles of Organization$75
IowaCertificate of Organization$50
KansasArticles of Organization$85
KentuckyArticles of Organization$40
LouisianaArticles of Organization$125
MaineCertificate of Formation$175
MarylandArticles of Organization$100
MassachusettsCertificate of Organization$500
MichiganArticles of Organization$50
MinnesotaArticles of Organization$155
MississippiCertificate of Formation$50
MissouriArticles of Organization$50
MontanaArticles of Organization$35
NebraskaCertificate of Organization$100
NevadaArticles of Organization$75
New HampshireCertificate of Formation$100
New JerseyCertificate of Formation$100
New MexicoArticles of Organization$50
New YorkArticles of Organization$200
North CarolinaArticles of Organization$125
North DakotaArticles of Organization$135
OhioArticles of Organization$99
OklahomaArticles of Organization$100
OregonArticles of Organization$100
PennsylvaniaCertificate of Organization$125
Rhode IslandArticles of Organization$150
South CarolinaArticles of Organization$110
South DakotaArticles of Organization$150
TennesseeArticles of Organization$300
TexasCertificate of Formation$300
UtahCertificate of Organization$59
VermontArticles of Organization$155
VirginiaArticles of Organization$100
WashingtonCertificate of Formation$180
West VirginiaArticles of Organization$100
WisconsinArticles of Organization$130
WyomingArticles of Organization$100

From our state guides, each checked against the state's official site. Click a state for the full guide and sources.

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