* The Secretary of State's Web site now contains a searchable database of the business records maintained by the Secretary of State, along with images of filed business documents. There are no fees for searching the database, or viewing and printing document images.
* Names of business entities used in filings must now be "distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State." Statutory standards for names (e.g., "Olympic," "credit union," and "bank" are not permitted) and legislative references are cited in the document in the "What's New" portion of the website announcing the standard.
* Free certificates of good standing are available for business entities.
Connecticut:
* Fee schedules and fax filing guidelines are available.
Florida:
* Effective October 1, 2001 Judgment Liens are filed with the Division of Corporations. Filing options will include the ability to file Judgment Liens online. Judgment Lien Information contains additional details and a link to forms.
* The Division of Corporations currently maintains an index of fictitious names on a database available on the Internet. In accordance with 15.16(6), F.S., effective June 9, 2001, it is no longer a requirement to advertise the intention to register a fictitious name prior to registration;
* Online filing is now available for the following domestic filing types: Florida Profit Corporation, Florida NonProfit Corporation, Florida Limited Liability Company, and Florida Limited Partnership;
* Business filing images are available without a fee, and uniform business report filings are possible;
* Uniform limited partnership legislation and the revised uniform partnership act were adopted;
* A master index of businesses is to be maintained in the office of the Secretary of State; and
* Corporations legislation and Limited Liability Companies legislation was adopted in 2001, copies of which are available online.
Georgia:
* Online corporate renewals exceeded 50,000 by March 1st.
Hawaii:
* The Business Registrations Branch now accepts Visa and Mastercard.
Iowa:
* Biannual reports will be able to be filed online as of January 2, 2002.
Kansas:
* Annual reports can now be filed online.
Kentucky:
* The secretary of state's site now features a searchable database officers of Kentucky-registered business organizations.
Louisiana
* Effective August 15, 2001, the annual report filing date for non-profit corporations changed from May 15 to the anniversary date of incorporation. This change will require many corporations, whose anniversary dates are between August 15 and May 15, to file an annual report just a few months after filing the 2000 report. However, this current report is for 2001; another report will not be due until their anniversary date in 2002;
* Also effective August 15, 2001, foreign and domestic limited liability companies were and will be required to file annual reports on the anniversary date of organization or qualification. Forms will be mailed by the state one month prior to the due date. Limited liability companies will be eligible for good standing status when their anniversary date is reached and an annual report is filed; and
* The weekly list of new corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships are now available in .TXT format for downloading or viewing on-line.
Maine:
* Credit card payments are now accepted by the site;
* Inter-entity merger forms are available for download; and
* Interactive Corporate Services provides access to information on business entities that file documents with the Secretary of State. Interactive Corporate Services allows copies of imaged documents, such as annual reports and articles of incorporation, as well as copies of certificates of good standing, to be printed at home or the office.
Maryland:
* The staff will answer questions about corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, business trusts, trade names, UCC security interest filings, and other business-related questions by the end of the next business day (5 p.m. Eastern time);
* Private banner advertising is accepted on the Secretary of State's site.
Massachusetts:
* The site now accepts various filings online. It requires browsers with 128-bit ssl capability to access the online filings portion of the site;
* Certificates of good standing are available without cost by online request; and
* General legal information on business entities and Massachusetts filing requirements for same is available online.
Michigan:
* PA 37 adds section 4 to the home rule city act and provides a home rule city may by ordinance or resolution authorize the formation of a nonprofit corporation for valid public purposes;
* Amendments to the Business Corporation Act, SB 206, and amendments to the Professional Service Corporation Act, SB 216, were signed by the Governor on July 23, 2001, with immediate effect, and are Public Act 57 of 2001 and Public Act 58 of 2001, respectively; and
* Preprinted, bar coded forms for a corporation or limited liability company can be obtained by contacting the Annual Report Unit or the Customer Service Unit of the Corporation Division.
Minnesota:
* Lists of dissolved organizations are now available on the Web site;
* Minnesota has adopted the Revised Uniform Partnership Act effective December 31, 2001. Information on transition provisions for existing limited liability partnerships is available online;
* New domestic cooperative periodic registration forms are available online;
* New domestic corporation annual registration forms are available online; and
* New domestic corporation articles of dissolution forms for corporations which have not issued shares are available online.
Mississippi:
* The state has adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, which facilitates the use of digital signatures in commerce.
Missouri:
* A unified database containing information on the registration numbers, agents, etc., for a wide variety of business entities, fictitious name registrations, trusts, and other business forms is available online.
Montana:
* The Secretary of State's website maintains a directory of registered agents;
* Business entity names can be searched online, and certificates of Authorization, Existence, or Fact can be purchased online;
* The state has adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, to facilitate use of digital signatures; and
* Legislation has been adopted limiting the use of business names that do not describe the form of entity used. HB 235 clarifies that a business may identify itself only with a title that describes its true type or form, such as corporation, partnership, or association. Thus, a mythical corporation named The Montana Company could not call itself The Montana Company, LLC (limited liability corporation).
Nevada:
* Two-hour turnaround is available on customer orders, for a fee; and
* All corporations, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships registered in Nevada are required to obtain a Nevada Business License(NRS 364A). Licensing is through the Department of Taxation.
New Hampshire:
* Domestic and foreign investment trust registration forms are available online.
New York:
* Corporation and other business entity fees can now be paid by credit card;
* The Division of Corporations will accept requests for filings of documents, copies, certificates under seal, and name availability by fax. Fees for requests by fax must be paid by charges to a drawdown account or by credit card; and
* Parchment corporate certificates suitable for framing are available for $25.
North Carolina:
* Session Law 2001-390 (House Bill 1073): Effective August 26, 2001, this law removes the five-year limitation on reinstatement from administrative dissolution for several types of business entities, including business corporations and limited liability companies. This Bill permits the Secretary of State to reinstate an administratively dissolved entity at any time if the entity files an Application for Reinstatement from Administrative Dissolution and meets other statutory requirements. The name of an administratively dissolved entity that has not applied for reinstatement becomes available for use by another entity at the expiration of five years from the effective date of the administrative dissolution. If the name of an administratively dissolved entity is used by another entity following that time, the administratively dissolved entity must change its name before it may be reinstated.
North Dakota:
* Business related legislation adopted in 2001 includes:
HB 1139--Foreign Limited Partnership Filing Requirements
Increases the filing fee from $25 to $40 to file a statement of amendment for a foreign limited partnership and removes the notarized signature requirement on a foreign limited partnership registration.
HB 1140--Limited Liability Partnership Filing Requirements
Makes filing requirements the same for foreign limited liability partnerships as for North Dakota limited liability partnerships.
HB 1178--Trade Names and Trademarks
Makes name changes of trade names and trademark registrants more efficient and allows the Secretary of State to cancel a trade name or trademark when the registrant is a business entity that has ceased to exist.
HB 1422--Partnership Fictitious Names and Trade Names
More clearly defines a partnership fictitious name or trade name.
SB 2142--Business Corporations, Professional Organizations and Limited Liability Companies
Makes numerous technical, grammatical, and substantive changes to the statutes related to business corporations, professional organizations, and limited liability companies administered by the Secretary of State.
Ohio:
* Prepayment accounts are available online; and
* Forms Reduction: The secretary of state currently issues 82 different forms for a variety of business related functions. This January, customers have a more organized and less intimidating collection of 32 forms from which to choose. The new forms are organized into nine basic categories according to function or product, and then further consolidated within those categories. The new forms will be available on the secretary of state's Web site and on a CD-ROM that can be obtained free of charge from the business services division. Once the new forms are introduced, there will be a transition period during which both the old and new forms will be accepted. Customers will have at least 60 days' notice as to when the old forms will no longer be accepted.
Oregon:
* Effective January 1, 2002--Business Names Must Not Imply Banking: "If a person seeks to make a Business Registry filing of a name with the Secretary of State that contains the word or words, banc, bancorp, bank, banker, banking, savings, safe deposit, trust, trustee, building and loan or their equivalents in a language other than English, implying a business primarily engaged in the lending of money, underwriting or sale of financial products, acting as a depository institution, acting as a financial planner, financial advisor or acting as a loan broker, the Secretary of State may not accept the name for filing without first receiving specific written approval from the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services." (Pursuant to Chapter 315, Oregon Laws 2001).
Rhode Island:
* You can now search for information on entity status, registered agent and address, initial directors, date of incorporation, address of principal office, and all activity history for active and inactive business entities;
* Forms are available in pdf format, for filling in online and printing offline; and
* Corporation, limited liability company, and partnership laws are available online.
South Carolina:
* S.C. Code 33-44-211 concerning the filing deadline for subsequent annual reports for limited liability companies was changed by the General Assembly in Act 395. Subsequent reports now must be delivered to the Secretary of State's office on or before the fifteenth day of the third month following the close of the taxable year of that limited liability company. The filing deadline for initial annual reports remains the same: between January first and April first of the year following the calendar year in which the limited liability company was organized or a foreign company was authorized to conduct business;
* The site has upgraded its pdf format downloadable forms to allow you to fill them out, then print and sign them for submission (forms must be signed). These forms can also be downloaded and saved to your hard drive for later use; and
* The site now offers a debit account for South Carolina attorneys.
South Dakota:
* Adopted legislation clarifying business trust provisions of state statutes; and
* Adopted HB 1205: An Act to provide for the licensing of certain real estate corporations and limited liability companies.
Tennessee:
* Public laws chapter 353: Enacts the Revised Uniform Partnership Act of 2001; provides for the voluntary filing of general partnership statements with the Secretary of State. Effective 1/1/2002; and
* Public laws chapter 418: Enacts the Nonprofit Limited Liability Act of 2001. Permits the creation of a nonprofit LLC (whose sole member is a nonprofit corporation as defined in the Act) and the conversion of certain nonprofit corporations to nonprofit LLCs. Effective 7/1/2001.
Utah:
* Annual business registrations can be renewed online;
* A revised nonprofit corporation act became effective in 2001; and
* A revised limited liability company act became effective in 2001.
Washington:
* The site now offers on-line renewal and filing of the annual report for Profit Corporations or Limited Liability Companies.
Wisconsin:
* Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions has hit a benchmark for electronic document filing. QuickStart LLC is the preferred choice for filing a LLC. Year to date in 2001 there have been just under 9,000 LLC's filed. Of those, 5,143 LLC's have been filed electronically. 58 percent of LLC's being filed, are being filed electronically;
* Effective September 4, 2001, the fee for filing Articles of Incorporation is a flat fee of $100 for unlimited shares; and
* Corporation annual reports can now be filed online.
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