State Corporation Laws Overview
State laws regulate the manner in which corporations, partnerships, and other business entities are established and structured. Laws governing these different business forms are not the same, especially in areas such as personal liability for business debts and the business's tax obligations.
A lawyer can help you tackle the following important considerations. For instance, California's Business and Professions Code states that a business may not use "Corporation" or "Inc." unless that business entity is in fact incorporated. Generally speaking, corporation laws spell out the rights, responsibilities, and procedures pursuant to a given business structure.
Select a state from the following chart to view its corporations code. See FindLaw's Incorporation and Legal Structures section for additional articles and resources.
| Alabama | Title 10 | Corporations, Partnerships and Associations |
| Alaska | Title 10 | Corporations and Associations |
| Arizona | Title 10 | Corporations and Associations |
| Arkansas | Title 4, Sub-title 3 | Corporations and Associations |
| California | California Corporations Code | California Corporations Code |
| Colorado | Title 7 | Corporations and Associations |
| Connecticut | Title 33 | Corporations |
| Delaware | Title 8 | Corporations |
| District of Columbia | Title 29 | Corporations |
| Florida | Title XXXVI | Business Organizations |
| Georgia | Title 14 | Business Corporation Code |
| Hawaii | Title 23 | Corporations and Partnerships |
| Idaho | Title 30 | Corporations |
| Illinois | Chapter 805 | Business Organizations |
| Indiana | Title 23 | Business and Other Associations |
| Iowa | Title XII | Business Entities |
| Kansas | Chapter 17 | Corporations |
| Kentucky | Title XXIII | Private Corporations and Associations |
| Louisiana | Title 12 | Corporations and Associations |
| Maine | Titles 13 - 13C | Corporations |
| Maryland | Corporations and Associations | Maryland Corporations and Associations Code |
| Massachusetts | Title XXII | Corporations |
| Michigan | Chapter 450 | Corporations |
| Minnesota | Chapters 300 thru 319B | Corporations |
| Mississippi | Title 79 | Corporations, Associations, and Partnerships |
| Missouri | Title XXIII | Corporations, Associations and Partnerships |
| Montana | Title 35 | Corporations, Partnerships and Associations |
| Nebraska | Sections 21-2001 - 21-20,193 | Business Corporation Act |
| Nevada | Title 7 | Business Associations; Securities; Commodities |
| New Hampshire | Title XXVII | Corporations, Associations, and Proprietors of Common Lands |
| New Jersey | Title 14a | New Jersey Business Corporation Act |
| New Mexico | Chapter 53 | Corporations |
| New York | Chapter 855 | Business Corporation Code |
| North Carolina | Chapter 55 - 55D | North Carolina Business Corporation Act |
| North Dakota | Title 10 | Corporations |
| Ohio | Title XVII | Corporations - Partnerships |
| Oklahoma | Title 18 | Corporations |
| Oregon | Title 7 | Corporations and Partnerships |
| Pennsylvania | Title 15 | Corporations and Business Associations |
| Rhode Island | Title 7 | Corporations, Associations, and Partnerships |
| South Carolina | Title 33 | Corporations, Partnerships and Associations |
| South Dakota | Title 47 | Corporations |
| Tennessee | Title 48 | Corporations and Associations |
| Texas | Business Organization Code | Business Organization Code |
| Utah | Title 16 | Corporations |
| Vermont | Title 11 | Corporations, Partnerships and Associations |
| Virginia | Title 13.1 | Corporations |
| Washington | Title 23B | Washington Business Corporation Act |
| West Virginia | Chapter 31D | West Virginia Business Corporation Act |
| Wisconsin | Chapter 180 | Business Corporations |
| Wyoming | Title 17 | Wyoming Business Corporation Act |
Additional Resources
Let an Attorney Help You Comply With Your State's Corporation Laws
Want to learn more about corporation laws or need help incorporating in your state? A good first step is to contact a small business attorney in your jurisdiction. An attorney who specializes in a small business incorporation will be able to guide you through the process. Start today by finding an experienced business attorney near you.
