Articles of Organization explained

The Articles of Organization are the LLC's birth certificate: a one or two-page state filing that brings the company into existence. This guide explains what they contain, how they differ between states, and what you will use them for afterwards.

By Hamza Fida, Chartered Accountant. Reviewed by Muhammad Bilal, Chartered Accountant. Checked against official sources on . 2 minute read.

Short answer

Articles of Organization are the short document filed with a state to create an LLC. They usually give the LLC's name, its registered agent and address, and sometimes its management structure. Once the state accepts them, the LLC exists. Some states use another name: Delaware and Texas call it a Certificate of Formation.

At a glance

What they do
Create the LLC under state law
Filed with
The Secretary of State or equivalent office
Other names
Certificate of Formation in Delaware and Texas
Typical contents
Name, registered agent and address, organizer
Fee
Set by the state, for example $50 in New Mexico and $300 in Texas
Public?
Yes, the filed document is a public record
Articles of Organization explainedWhat they do: Create the LLC under state law; Filed with: The Secretary of State or equivalent office; Other names: Certificate of Formation in Delaware and Texas; Typical contents: Name, registered agent and address, organizer; Fee: Set by the state, for example $50 in New Mexico and $300 in Texas; Public?: Yes, the filed document is a public record.KEY FACTS AT A GLANCEArticles of Organization explainedWhat they doCreate the LLC understate lawFiled withThe Secretary of State orequivalent officeOther namesCertificate of Formationin Delaware and TexasTypical contentsName, registered agentand address, organizerFeeSet by the state, forexample $50 in New Mexicoand $300 in TexasPublic?Yes, the filed documentis a public recordChecked against official sourcesTax BakersArticles of Organization explainedWhat they do: Create the LLC under state law; Filed with: The Secretary of State or equivalent office; Other names: Certificate of Formation in Delaware and Texas; Typical contents: Name, registered agent and address, organizer; Fee: Set by the state, for example $50 in New Mexico and $300 in Texas; Public?: Yes, the filed document is a public record.KEY FACTS AT A GLANCEArticles of Organization explainedWhat they doCreate the LLC under state lawFiled withThe Secretary of State or equivalent officeOther namesCertificate of Formation in Delaware andTexasTypical contentsName, registered agent and address,organizerFeeSet by the state, for example $50 in NewMexico and $300 in TexasPublic?Yes, the filed document is a public recordChecked against official sourcesTax Bakers
Key facts at a glance, as set out in this guide.

What are Articles of Organization?

They are the formation document for an LLC. Filing them with the state and paying the fee creates the company as a legal entity. The state keeps the filed document as a public record and returns a stamped or certified copy, which is your proof that the LLC exists.

They are different from the operating agreement, which is private and sets the members' internal rules. See LLC operating agreement.

What do states call them?

Most states say Articles of Organization. Delaware and Texas call the same document a Certificate of Formation, and a few other states use Certificate of Organization. They do the same job.

What do they contain?

States ask for the minimum the law requires, and some ask for more:

ItemWyomingDelaware
LLC name with the required endingYesYes
Registered agent and in-state addressYesYes
Mailing and principal office addressesYesNo
Email address for state noticesYesNo
Members or managersNot asked forNot asked for
Signed byAn organizerAn authorized person

Other states may ask whether the LLC is managed by members or managers, its purpose, its duration, or the names of managers. New Mexico makes member names optional. See member-managed vs manager-managed LLC.

What does filing cost?

A one-off state fee. Among states we cover: New Mexico $50, California $70, Wyoming $100, Delaware $110, Florida $125 and Texas $300. See how much an LLC costs.

How are they filed?

Most states accept online filing, and some only accept it: New Mexico, for example, takes business filings through its online portal. Wyoming and Delaware also accept mail. Processing times range from a few business days online to around three weeks on paper. See how long it takes to form an LLC.

What are they used for after formation?

  • Applying for the EIN. The IRS says to form the entity before applying.
  • Opening the business bank account.
  • Registering in other states as a foreign LLC.
  • Proving the company exists to platforms, suppliers and landlords.

Keep the stamped copy safe. Certified copies can be ordered from the state if needed.

How do you change them?

File Articles of Amendment, or the state's equivalent, to change details such as the name or management structure, usually with a fee. Wyoming, for example, charges $60 for amendments. Changing only the registered agent is often a separate, cheaper filing. See what a registered agent is.

Want your Articles filed?

We prepare and file the Articles of Organization in your chosen state, and send you the stamped copy banks and the IRS ask for.

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Questions people ask

What are Articles of Organization?

The document filed with a state to create an LLC, usually giving its name, registered agent and address.

Are Articles of Organization the same as an operating agreement?

No. Articles are a public state filing that creates the LLC. The operating agreement is a private contract between the members.

What is a Certificate of Formation?

The same document under another name, used in states such as Delaware and Texas.

Do Articles of Organization list the owners?

It depends on the state. Wyoming and Delaware do not ask for members, and New Mexico makes them optional.

Sources

Every fee, date and rule on this page was taken from these official and primary sources.

  1. Wyoming Secretary of State: LLC Articles of Organization form and instructions
  2. Wyoming Secretary of State: Business Division fee schedule, effective July 1, 2026
  3. Delaware Division of Corporations: Certificate of Formation form, rev. 8/2026
  4. IRS: Get an employer identification number

Rules and fees change. If you are reading this long after September 30, 2026, confirm the figures with the source before you rely on them.

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This guide is general information. It is not tax or legal advice for your situation.