§ 200 Corporation Formation Requirements

Corporations Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law explains how to create a corporation and when it officially starts. It says that people or groups can form a corporation by filing special papers called articles of incorporation.

Key Takeaways

•You need to file special papers called articles of incorporation to create a corporation.
•The people starting the corporation must sign these papers.
•Once the papers are filed, the corporation exists forever unless the papers or the law say otherwise.

Example

A group of friends wants to start a business selling handmade toys.

They need to write and file articles of incorporation to officially create their company. Once filed, their business becomes a corporation and exists forever unless they say otherwise in the papers or the law changes.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 200 Corporation Formation Requirements

(a) One or more natural persons, partnerships, associations or corporations, domestic or foreign, may form a corporation under this division by executing and filing articles of incorporation. (b) If initial directors are named in the articles, each director named in the articles shall sign and acknowledge the articles; if initial directors are not named in the articles, the articles shall be signed by one or more persons described in subdivision (a) who thereupon are the incorporators of the corporation. (c) The corporate existence begins upon the filing of the articles and continues perpetually, unless otherwise expressly provided by law or in the articles. (Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1223, Sec. 1.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

articles of incorporation initial directors incorporators corporate existence

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 200.

§ 200 Corporation Formation Requirements

Corporations Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 200 Corporation Formation Requirements

This law explains how to create a corporation and when it officially starts. It says that people or groups can form a corporation by filing special papers called articles of incorporation.

Key Takeaways

•You need to file special papers called articles of incorporation to create a corporation.
•The people starting the corporation must sign these papers.
•Once the papers are filed, the corporation exists forever unless the papers or the law say otherwise.

Example

A group of friends wants to start a business selling handmade toys.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 200 Corporation Formation Requirements

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

articles of incorporation initial directors incorporators corporate existence

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 200.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References