FAQs
The Secretary of State cannot determine the value of a stock certificate. However, if the corporation is active, the Secretary of State can provide the information to contact the corporation.
To verify whether a corporation exists and to obtain information to contact the corporation:
- Check Business Records Search. If the corporation is active, contact
- Call 701-328-4284 or 800-352-0867 (Ext. 8-4284)
- Fax a request to 701-328-2992 addressed to the Business Division
- Email to sosbir@nd.gov
- Mail addressed to: Business Division
Secretary of State
600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
If the corporation is no longer active, the Secretary of State can do a search of archived records to see if the corporation was dissolved, or whether it merged into another organization. If the corporation was retired by merger, you can contact the surviving organization of the merger. It’s possible that the stock certificate may have been converted to holdings of the merger survivor. To verify archived records, send a copy of the stock certificate with $5 fee to the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State provides certificates of good standing on corporations and limited liability companies. Certificates of fact are issued for verifications of filings of limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability limited partnerships, and any other facts of record. A certificate is not yet available from the Secretary of State’s website but can be obtained upon request with payment by check, money order, credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or Discover), or pre-authorized credit. The request can be made by:
- Calling 701-328-4284 or 800-352-0867 (Ext. 8-4284)
- Fax at 701-328-2992 addressed to the Business Division
- Email to sosbir@nd.gov
- Mail addressed to: Business Division
Secretary of State
600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
Since the officers of a corporation are not contained in the Secretary of State’s database, this information requires a fee of $5. A check payable to the Secretary of State, cash, money order, or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or Discover) payment is acceptable. You can obtain the information by:
- Calling 701-328-4284 or 800-352-0867 (Ext. 8-4284)
- Faxing a request to 701-328-2992 addressed to the Business Division
- Email to sosbir@nd.gov
- Mailing a request addressed to: Business Division
Secretary of State
600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
No. The annual reports of a corporation will disclose the names of the officers and directors.
Individuals must research this question on their own and should consult an attorney and/or tax professional in making the decision. There are many factors to consider including but not limited to:
- Tax issues,
- Liability issues,
- Capital needs, and
- Type of business.
If a decision is made to incorporate, contact the Secretary of State for forms and procedural information.
Only one. Send two copies if the filer wants a copy bearing the filing stamp.
No. A corporation maintains its bylaws.
No, however, if the name was not reserved prior to submission of the articles of incorporation or the foreign corporation certificate of authority application, the availability of the name will be determined at the time the articles of incorporation or application are reviewed by the Secretary of State. If the name is not available, the corporate charter or authorization date must be delayed until the name issue is resolved.
A corporate name may be reserved for a period of twelve months prior to the actual submission of the articles of incorporation or foreign corporation certificate of authority application. After the twelve-month period has expired, the reservation can be renewed if the articles of incorporation or foreign corporation certificate of authority application are not ready for submission.
The terms registered agent, resident agent, and statutory agent all have the same meaning. North Dakota statutes refer to it as registered agent.
A corporation cannot serve itself as its registered agent. A corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent to receive all legal documents for the corporation, including service of process if a lawsuit is filed against a corporation. The registered agent is expected to forward these documents to the corporation. A registered agent may be:
- An individual resident residing in North Dakota,
- Another domestic or foreign corporation that is registered with the Secretary of State and has a business office in North Dakota, or
- A domestic or foreign limited liability company that is registered with the Secretary of State and has a business office in North Dakota.
The Secretary of State does not supply stock certificate forms. Consult a printer.
A corporate seal is not required under North Dakota laws.
Agent service companies exist that specialize in registered agent services. For a list of the individuals or companies that specialize in this service in North Dakota, see Registered Agent List.
The registered office is the physical address (not just a post office box number) where the registered agent is available to receive service during regular business hours. Since the address of the registered office is often used for mail delivery, a post office box number must be included in the address if mail is not delivered to the physical address.
Contact the Secretary of State if your business meets the following criteria:
- Is an individual resident residing in North Dakota,
- Is a domestic or foreign corporation that is registered with the Secretary of State and has a business office in North Dakota, or
- Is a domestic or foreign limited liability company that is registered with the Secretary of State and has a business office in North Dakota.
The Secretary of State cannot accept documents for filing when the corporation’s charter or authority is in a revoked status. You must file the necessary documents with the required fees to reinstate the charter or authority, and then file the dissolution or withdrawal.
A domestic corporation is incorporated according to North Dakota’s laws while a foreign corporation is incorporated according to the laws of another jurisdiction that may be another state, or a country outside the United States.
When a corporation meets specific criteria, federal tax laws refer to it as an “S” and “C” corporation. The Secretary of State’s records do not reflect this status. Questions about the meaning of these designations and the differences in the two types of corporations should be addressed to legal or accounting professionals, or to the Internal Revenue Service, https://www.irs.gov.
The late filing fee is required. North Dakota’s annual report statutes specifically state that a report received after the required date must bear a postmark date on or before the required date to be acceptable without the late filing fee.
NDCC, Section 10-19.1-134 states:
“ A foreign corporation may not:
- Transact business in this state or obtain any license or permit required until it has procured a certificate of authority from the Secretary of State.
- Transact any business in this state prohibited to a domestic corporation incorporated under this chapter.
- Be denied a certificate of authority because the laws of the state or country where the corporation is incorporated differ from the laws of this state.”
NDCC, Chapter 54-44.4 requires most foreign corporations to obtain a certificate of authority from the Secretary of State if the corporation desires to bid to provide goods or services to North Dakota agencies.
NDCC, Section 10-19.1-143 defines activities that do not constitute transacting business. These exempted activities only apply:
- If a foreign corporation is not applying for a license or permit, and
- Is not bidding to provide goods or services to North Dakota agencies.
The Secretary of State’s staff cannot indicate whether or not a particular foreign corporation must obtain a certificate of authority. A corporation that is uncertain about this question should consult legal counsel familiar with North Dakota laws. A corporation that decides that a certificate of authority is required must obtain it before transacting business in North Dakota.
While the Secretary of State cannot determine whether a certificate of authority is required, most state agencies will not issue a license or permit until the certificate of authority is obtained as required by NDCC, Section 10-19.1-134.
NDCC, Section 10-19.1-142 lists the consequences of transacting business without a certificate of authority.