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The Corporations Division is responsible for the examination, custody and maintenance of the legal documents filed by more than 400,000 corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies. The duty of the Secretary of State is to ensure uniform compliance with the statutes governing the creation of these entities, record the information required to be kept as a public record, and provide that information to the public. The Corporations Division acts in an administrative capacity only and cannot give legal advice.

In March, the Corporations Division began a project which affected document examination resources and document turn-around times. I would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during this time. I also thank the Corporations Division staff and staff from other units for continuing to put in the extra effort to get the turn-around times back to normal.

The current turn-around times for creation documents (Articles of Organization, Articles of Incorporation and Applications for Certificates of Authority) are back to the normal three to five (3-5) day turn-around. Other documents such as amendments and dissolutions are currently at a nine to twelve (9-12) day turn-around on filing. It is our intention that all filings will be back to the normal three to five (3-5) day turn-around by the end of June.

Continue to be mindful of the expedited filing provisions found N.C.G.S. 55D-11 if you require 24 hour or same day filing service.

• NEW! Session Law 2010-31 Annual Report Due date changes
• Alert: The Secretary of State's Office has become aware that an entity, "Compliance Services," has mailed solicitations titled "Annual Minutes Requirement Statement" to business entities in North Carolina. Click here for more information.

• 	Complaint (TRO) Order Corporate Services Inc. DBA Compliance Services and Corporate Services and CorpSrvc.com and Selwyn J Monarch
  	SCAM ALERT Regarding National Business Register

  
  
• Annual Report Fee Changes Business Corporation
• Information about Dissolution/Revocation Notices
• Information about Revenue Suspension Notices
• Requirement for over the counter filings: When placing orders at our counter please make sure to include the

  Cover Sheet for Corporate Filings

  
  

• The Secretary of State collects one dollar ($1.00) a page for copying or comparing a copy to the original; and fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the certificate. There will also be a charge of ten dollars ($10.00) for an electronic certificate. Please make your check payable to N.C. Secretary of State.
• Acceptable forms of payment include: Certified Checks, Money Orders, and Business or personal checks with address and telephone number made payable to the North Carolina Secretary of State. Starter or Counter checks are not acceptable forms of payment.