When you need information about corporations in Massachusetts

6 Pages·1996·0.26 MB·English

by  Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State

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When You Need
Information About
Corporations in
Massachusetts
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UMASS/AMHtHb
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When You Need
Information About
Corporations in
|
Massachusetts
Corporations are averyimportantpart ofcommer- |
cial life in Massachusetts. People have many questions
aboutformingcorporations aswellas aboutthose that
are alreadyestablished. The Secretaryofthe Common-
wealth'sCorporationsDivisioncanhelpcitizensfind
informationaboutcorporationsinMassachusetts. For
example:
Who
aretheofficersordirectorsofthiscorporation?
Whatisthelegalcorporatenameandaddress?
WherecanIgetacopyoftheAnnualReport?
Isaparticularnameavailableforaproposedcorporation?
WherecanIobtaincopiesoftheArticlesofOrganization?
The divisionmaintains recordsofrequiredcorpo-
ratefilings. Theserecordsprovidefactualinformation
regardingthe nature ofbusinesses, theirlocations, of-
ficersanddirectors.
TheCorporationsDivisiondoesnotandcannotpro-
vide informationabouttaxes, orrenderopinionsabout
the qualityorreputationofanycorporation.
What sort ofinformation is available?
Listedbelowaresomeofthedocumentsthatmustbe
filedwiththe CorporationsDivisionandwhichare avail-
ableforpublic inspection andduplication:
ArticlesofOrganizationfordomestic profit, non-
profit, andprofessionalcorporations - These
articlesarefiledbyeverycorporationandmustinclude
informationonthecorporation'soriginalpurpose(s),
numberofshares andparvalue (ifany)ofstock, princi-
palplace ofbusiness, the dateofthefiscalyearend, and
the namesandaddresses ofitsofficersanddirectors.
Amendments toArticlesofOrganization - Certain
changesmade byacorporationto its originalArticles of
Organizationmustbefiledasanamendmenttothearticles.
AnnualReport- Thisreportisfiledannuallybyeach
corporationandincludesinformationaboutthelocation
oftheprincipaloffice, thetotalauthorizedandissued
amount ofcapital stock, and the names andaddresses of
officers and directors.
TrustDeclaration-AMassachusettsbusinesstrustmust
fileitsdeclarationoftrust, whichissimilartotheArticles
ofOrganizationfiledbycorporations(seeabove). It
includesthe location oftheprincipalofficeofthetrust,
andthenamesandaddressesofthetrustees.
TrustAmendments - Certainchangesmadebya
Massachusettsbusinesstrustto itsoriginalTrustDeclara-
tionmustbefiledasTrustAmendments.
AnnualTrustReport - Thisreport isfiledannuallyby
each Massachusettsbusinesstrust andcontainsinforma-
tion similarto thatfiledbycorporations intheAnnual
Report(seeabove).Itincludesthetotalamountoftransfer-
able shares andthe namesandaddressesofthetrustees.
Where is this information available?
The CorporationsDivisionhasaPublic SearchRoom
located at OneAshburtonPlace, Room 1713, Boston.
The search room is openfrom 8:45am- 5:00pm, Mon-
daythroughFriday, excludinglegalholidays.
You maymake copiesfor20<t apage on microfilm
andmicrofichemachinesavailableforpublic use. If
the documents have notbeenfilmed, copies ofthe
documentsmustbeordered. TheCorporationsDivision
willfillthe ordersexpeditiouslyintheorderreceived.
Copiesmayalsobeobtainedbymailwhentherequest
is accompaniedbythe properfee. Please make all
checkspayabletotheCommonwealthofMassachusetts.
Certified copies
Certified copies are requiredforvariouslegalpur-
poses. Forexample, copiesusedinconnectionwiththe
sale ofabusinessorinconnectionwithcourtproceed-
ingsoftenrequirecertification.
Youmayobtainacertifiedcopyofthefollowing
documents upon request andpayment ofthepre-
scribedstatutoryfee.
ArticlesofOrganization $12.00
Allotherdocumentsonfile:
-forthefirstpage $7.00
-andforeachadditionalpage $2.00
Other services and fees
Incaseswhereformalproofofcorporate statusis
necessary, aCertificateofLegalExistence, Non-Exist-
ence, orDissolution, allbearingthe Massachusetts
state seal, canbe obtainedforafee of$7.00. More
detailedcertificatescontainingspecificitemsofinfor-
mationmaybe obtainedforafee of$12.00, $20.00, or
$25.00, dependingonthetypeofcertificates.
Certificates of Good Standing
The CorporationsDivisionwillissueaCertificate of
GoodStandingtobusinesscorporationsuponrequest
andpayment ofa $12.00fee. Thecertificate statesthat
the corporationhasfiledallannualreports, paidall
feesduewithrespectto such reports, andisnot in the
processofdissolution. CertificatesofGoodStanding
are also issuedbythe DepartmentofRevenue. These
certificatesindicate thatalltaxesdue andpayableto
the Commonwealthhavebeenpaid orprovidedfor.
Foradditionalinformationconcerningthelattercertifi-
cate, pleasecontact:
DepartmentofRevenue
215 FirstStreet
Cambridge, MA02142
[phone]
Helpful publications
Thefollowingpublicationsareavailable:
"HowtoOrganizeaBusinessCorporation"
Astep-by-stepoutline free+ 32<t shipping
"HowtoOrganizeaNon-profitCorporation"
Astep-by-stepoutline free+ 32C shipping
"ChoosingaNameforYourBusiness"
Describestypesofbusinessnames
andoutlinesmethodsofprotection ... free+ 32<t shipping
"RulesandRegulationsoftheCorporationsDivision"
Outlinespracticesandprocedures
oftheCorporationsDivision $3 10+ $1.75shipping
.
Thesepublicationsmaybeobtainedfrom:
The State Bookstore
Secretaryofthe Commonwealth
State House, Room 116
Boston, MA02133
[phone]
Corporations Division Directory
INPUT SECTION (Organization)
OneAshburton Place, Room 1717
[phone]
OUTPUT SECTION (Records, Certification)
OneAshburton Place, Room 1715
[phone]
UNIFORM COMMERCIALCODE
OneAshburton Place, Room 1711
[phone]
DISSOLUTIONS
One Ashburton Place, Room 1717
[phone]
NON-PROFIT
OneAshburton Place, Room 1717
[phone]
SERVICE OF PROCESS
One Ashburton Place, Room 1710
[phone]
BUSINESS TRUST
OneAshburton Place, Room 1711
[phone]
TRADEMARKS
OneAshburton Place, Room 1711
[phone]
LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
OneAshburton Place, Room 1711
[phone]
Corporate Information: [phone]
Forms Request Line: [phone]
For further information contact:
William Francis Galvin
Secretaryofthe Commonwealth
Corporations Division
OneAshburton Place, 17th floor
Boston, MA02108
[phone]
or
Citizen Information Service
[phone] or
1-800-392-6090 (toll freewithin Massachusetts only)
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