§ 5133 Certified Articles As Evidence

Corporations Code·California

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Key Takeaways

•A certified copy of a company's papers from the Secretary of State proves the company exists.
•This copy is enough to show the company is real, unless someone is challenging its right to exist in a special way.
•You don’t need more proof in most cases—just this paper.

Example

If someone says your company isn’t real and sues you over a contract.

You can show the court the certified papers from the Secretary of State, and that’s enough to prove your company exists.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 5133 Certified Articles As Evidence

For all purposes other than an action in the nature of quo warranto, a copy of the articles of a corporation duly certified by the Secretary of State is conclusive evidence of the formation of the corporation and prima facie evidence of its corporate existence. (Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 567.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

articles of a corporation Secretary of State conclusive evidence prima facie evidence corporate existence quo warranto

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 5133.

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Key Takeaways

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Related Statutes

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