Name of Corporation

• The name of a corporation can be reserved by applying to the North Carolina Secretary of State; the name of the corporation must be included in the articles. Also, the name must include some indication that the business is incorporated; the name could include the words corporation, company, incorporated, limited or some abbreviation of any of those terms. The name must be also distinguishable from other corporations in the state.
  
  

Capital Stock Structure

• The articles must include the capital stock structure by stating the number of shares that the corporation is allowed to issue to shareholders. If the corporation will be issuing more than one type of stock, the articles must enumerate the types of stock as well. North Carolina corporations may assign a par value to their stock, but are not required to do so. If any shareholders will have preemptive rights, the articles must also expressly state those rights.
  
  

Identification Information

• The articles of incorporation must designate a registered agent for the corporation. The agent will be responsible for receiving official communications for the corporation including communications from state agencies and court papers. The articles must give the street address that will be the corporation's principal office as well as the names and addresses of each incorporator.
  
  

Purpose of Incorporation

• While you are not required to list a specific purpose for your corporation, you may wish to include a purpose if you want to restrict the parameters of your business. You may use the statement of purpose as a tool to keep everyone working in the corporation from stepping outside its original intentions. If you do not include a purpose statement, the law assumes your corporation's purpose is to engage "in any lawful business." Unless your articles specify otherwise, the law assumes your corporation will have unlimited duration.
  
  

Filing and Effectiveness

• For the articles to become effective, you must deliver them to the North Carolina Secretary of State along with an exact copy and the required filing fee. The articles become effective upon proper filing with the state.