A

Alabama Secretary of State (www.sos.state.al.us)
Can search corporate filings by name or agents/officers; search UCC filings by debtor?s name or filing number. Provides incorporation and registration information and fees; name reservation and registration information, downloads; UCC and corporation forms. Lands and Trademarks Division maintains county-by-county tract books, which reflect the original ownership of Alabama lands; provides trademark registration information and forms. Includes access to Code of Alabama, Acts of Alabama.

Alaska Department of Commerce, Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
(www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/home.htm)
Corporations Section contains searchable and downloadable corporations database, forms, fees, name reservation and registration forms and information. Business Licensing Section offers business licensing application and online registration; duplicate license request form; business license search tool; name selection guidance and regulations; business license statutes and regulations; classification system by line of business.

Arizona Corporation Commission ( www.cc.state.az.us )
Provides searchable database of filings, annual reports, pending matters report. Includes filing requirements, fee schedule, checklists, instructions and forms. Securities Division contains small business forms, information and registration packet; public record reproduction request form. Lists all active corporations, limited liability companies, trademarks, tradenames and limited partnerships; old corporation names; and corporations by agent name. Includes links to statutes and rules. Can perform preliminary name availability search and subscribe to State of Arizona Public Access System, which provides online access to public information. Corporations can file annual reports online. Pipeline Safety Section contains Arizona Underground Facilities Law, filing form and Pipeline Safety Rules.

Arizona Secretary of State ( www.azsos.gov)
Business Services includes UCC filings database, fee schedule and forms, trademarks and trade names applications, limited liability partnership certificates and other forms, registered name search, and full text of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Arkansas Secretary of State ( www.sosweb.state.ar.us)
Business Department includes Business Office, Corporations and Uniform Commercial Code divisions. Contains downloadable forms for registering corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, homebuilders and home inspectors. Subscribers can submit corporation, franchise tax and UCC filings online. Provides fee schedules; trademark information; search engine for business entities, homebuilders, home inspectors and trademarks. UCC section contains downloadable filing forms and fees.

C

California Secretary of State (www.ss.ca.gov/business/business.htm)
Can check records online for corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies. Business Filings Section contains Uniform Commercial Code financing and tax lien documents, corporate and other business entity documents, trademark/service mark registrations, and other statutorily required special filings. Provides informational materials; forms; list of fees for services to business entities and for filing financing statements, liens and other documents provided for under the Uniform Commercial Code; e-filing information. Includes directory of Secretary of State branch offices; list of chambers of commerce. Includes business start-up guide, business record search, notary public information, record order form and FAQs.

Colorado Secretary of State (www.sos.state.co.us)
Contains database of business records; downloadable filing manual; information about UCC filings; link to debtor search database; and commercial recording and UCC publications and forms. Can file periodic reports; order or validate certificate of good standing; file UCC or EFS forms online.

Connecticut Secretary of the State (www.sots.state.ct.us)
Can access UCC and corporations data online.


D

District of Columbia Business Resource Center (brc.dc.gov)
Can search databases of property sales and assessments; public land sales; unclaimed property; and other data. Provides links to Corporations Division database searches.


F

Florida Secretary of State, Division of Corporations
www.dos.state.fl.us/doc/
www.sunbiz.org
Sunbiz is the Division of Corporations' online information, research and electronic processing service center. Users can access business entity, corporation, federal lien, judgment lien and image databases; download corporate data and fictitious name data files; download and print copies of filed documents and forms; view filing fees. For multiple filings, after setting up a Sunbiz e-file account with a deposit, e-filing is available for corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, general partnership, judgment lien and uniform business trade survey filings. Contains statistics, legal opinions and procedural notices.


G

Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
www.sos.state.ga.us/corporations
Provides online business entity (corporations, limited partnerships, LLCs) database searchable by business name or registered agent name. Can order documents, reserve business names and file annual business registrations online with a credit card or with a GeorgiaNet account billed on a monthly basis; also can order status certificates and multiple corporate records. Provides filing procedures and forms for Georgia business entities; fee schedules; First Stop Business Information Center guide; and links to other states? business services divisions. Can download trademark, service mark applications and forms; Georgia trademark database is searchable by mark name or keyword.


H

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
www.state.hi.us/dcca/
Business Registration Division includes registration information, forms, filing tips, fee schedule, and links to business name and certificate of good standing search engines. Licensing and Business Information Section lists phone numbers for verification of complaint history and licensing status of businesses. Regulated Industries Complaints Office includes complaint forms and instructions.


I

Idaho Secretary of State (www.idsos.state.id.us)
Business Services Department provides corporation forms and fees; corporate/LLC name availability database; business organizations acts; office locations to order certificates of good standing; UCC text and resources.

Illinois Secretary of State (www.sos.state.il.us)
Business Services Department provides corporation forms and fees; corporate/LLC name availability database; business organizations acts; office locations to order certificates of good standing; UCC text and resources.

Indiana Secretary of State (www.state.in.us/sos/)
Can search for business entity name, check name availability and print official Certificates of Existence or Authorization. Business name search retrieves address, control number, status and dates. Additional information, such as registered agent, principals, transactions made with the Secretary of State's office and corporate report, is available for a fee. Visitors can view "Guide to Starting a Business in Indiana" and download corporation forms. Can perform UCC filings and searches online. Provides instructions; fee schedule; rules; forms; and list of county recorders. Provides trademark applications and information.

Iowa Secretary of State (www.sos.state.ia.us)
Corporate records can be searched by name or corporate number; UCC filings can be searched by personal name, business name or UCC number. Can submit UCC filings online.


K

Kansas Secretary of State (www.kssos.org)
Provides the full text of the Kansas Corporate Handbook, which includes statutes, index to corporation laws and fee schedule. Corporate database can be searched by name, keyword, number, stockholder, resident agent, officers, directors, city and date. Can search for Secretary of State forms in PDF format by name or category. Contains UCC fee schedule, statutes and regulations. Paid subscribers can perform UCC searches and file UCC documents online. Subscription information is available at www.accesskansas.org/online-services.html

Kentucky Office of Secretary of State (www.sos.state.ky.us)
"Business Services" provides online preliminary name availability search; database of more than 360,000 companies searchable by name; database of officers. UCC database can be searched by name of debtor or secured party, county, date of filing or company ID number. Provides online trademark database.


L

Louisiana Secretary of State (www.sec.state.la.us)
Can search Corporations Database for business names, trademarks, registered agents and individual names. Commercial Division contains current list of revocations. Provides information on UCC filings and fees; information about direct access service.


M

Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions
www.state.me.us/sos/cec/
Contains "Basics to Incorporating in Maine?; downloadable business registration forms (for corporations, LLCs, LLPs and non-profits); fee information. Can search corporate names and file annual reports; lists active Maine corporations and registered agents. Provides UCC filing and fee information; UCC interactive search; online filing; debtor name index. Includes Maine Marks Guide; trademark registration and fee information; listing of notaries public searchable by town and then name; agency rules.

Maryland Secretary of State
www.sos.state.md.us/Filings/PublicDisclosure.htm
Lists persons and companies that have disclosed doing business with the state in excess of $100,000.

Massachusetts Secretary of State (www.state.ma.us/sec/)
Corporations Division contains UCC database; downloadable corporation forms; online UCC filing form; business entities database, forms, fee schedule and certificate order information; trademark registration information and fees. Business Assistance Resource Center contains local, state and federal filing information for Massachusetts businesses. Public Records Division contains public records statutes and FAQs.

Michigan Bureau of Commercial Services
www.michigan.gov/cis/0,1607,7-154-10557---,00.html
Corporation Division contains incorporation and business registration FAQs; business entity database searchable by name, keyword or file number; contact information for business and corporation services; index of corporation and other forms; trademark information and forms; business guides; online request for public records form; corporation and UCC statutes and rules. Provides monthly statistics on new business entities and end-of-year totals of active business entities. Enforcement Division contains monthly disciplinary action reports; complaint instructions and forms.

Michigan Department of State, Uniform Commercial Code Information Page
www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1631_8851---,00.html
Provides UCC forms, statutes, fee schedule, updates, search tips. UCC Online Service allows registered users to file and search UCC documents over the Internet. Debtor name search is free of charge.

Minnesota Secretary of State (www.sos.state.mn.us)
Provides business services FAQs, information about types of filings, corporation forms and fee schedule. Online services subscribers can file annual registration, UCCs and corporate documents. Can search business and UCC databases online; many searches are free of charge.

Mississippi Secretary of State (www.sos.state.ms.us)
Corporations section includes searchable database of information on corporations, officers and other business entities. UCC section offers online search and filing. Division of Public Lands contains inventories, applications, requirements and other information about tax forfeited lands and public trust tidelands.

Missouri Office of the Secretary of State (www.sos.mo.gov)
Business Entity Database can be searched by current or prior names, registered agent, charter number, entity type or status and is updated nightly. Corporations Division provides business entities descriptions, information on filings, fee schedules, forms, UCC information and forms, and corporation statutes. Contains latest edition of the Official Manual of the State of Missouri, the online state almanac and official directory.

Montana Secretary of State (sos.state.mt.us/css/index.asp)
Includes business entity search; filing forms and fees. Subscribers can access UCC filings online.

N

Nebraska Secretary of State (www.sos.state.ne.us)
UCC Division provides monthly termination listings. Paid subscribers can perform corporate and business entity searches and UCC searches; can file UCC forms electronically.

Nevada Secretary of State (sos.state.nv.us)
Commercial Recording Division contains corporation database searchable by business name, resident agent, corporate officer or file number; alphabetical listing of registered resident agents; commercial recording forms and FAQs; trademark forms; online corporate name reservation system; commercial recording fee schedule; UCC forms; links to UCC and applicable regulations.

New Jersey Business Gateway Service, Corporate and Business Information Reporting
www.state.nj.us/njbgs/
Online Services include business registration, corporate filings; business name availability check and registration; registration verification; and links to other business services offered by the Department of Revenue and the Department of Treasury. Can browse online services to find a business entity, UCC debtor or other business listing free of charge; can order status reports or records on corporate and business entities, UCC filings and registered trade names/trademarks for a fee.

New Jersey State Consolidated Debarment Report (www.state.nj.us/treasury/debarred)
Can search directory of debarred firms and individuals by name, industry or debarment reason; can download the entire directory.

New Mexico Secretary of State (www.sos.state.nm.us)
Operations Division includes UCC statutes, online forms, list of UCC search providers; can search UCC filings and file UCC forms online.

New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code
www.dos.state.ny.us/corp/corpwww.html
Contains UCC fee schedule, filing guide, forms, rules; can search UCC records. Can e-file UCC statements and amendments. Contains corporation/business entity database; filing information, forms, fees; rules and regulations; legal memoranda.

North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State (www.secstate.state.nc.us)
Contains corporate names directory searchable by corporation name or registered agent; links to secretary of state filings; business forms and fee index; e-filing information; synopsis of corporate filing-related bills enacted by the General Assembly since 1996, with links to full text; guidelines for incorporating; link to Department of Revenue tax forms. Business License Information Office provides information and forms; new business checklist; business start-up guide; links to business resources. Includes UCC filings searchable by filing ID number, personal or commercial debtor name (ID number records are the most complete); e-filing information; rules and statutes; fee schedule; FAQs; and forms. Can search for federal tax liens against corporations and partnerships with executive offices in North Carolina by taxpayer name, lien serial number or taxpayer ID. Includes tax lien fee schedule; statutes; Trademark Registration Act; and Electronic Commerce Act.

North Dakota Secretary of State (www.state.nd.us/sec)
Business Registration and Information contains information on starting a business in North Dakota; new business registration information and links; business records database; summary of related legislation; patent, copyright and trademark registration forms and publications. Central Indexing includes UCC fee schedule; forms; UCC public records search; explanation of filing system; and central indexing statutes.

O

Ohio Secretary of State (www.state.oh.us/sos/)
Business Services offers corporate and UCC information. Corporate filing forms are organized by topic and can be searched by keyword. Provides filing reference guide; prepayment account information; guide to forming a corporation; business organization filing fees; information about limited liability companies, limited partnerships and trademarks; UCC filing information and fees. Includes county recorder directory with address and phone number for each county. Corporate records can be searched by business name, charter/registration number, agent/contact name, document ID number or prior business name. UCC records can be searched by number, debtor name, secured party name or bankrupt debtor name. Provides old debtor inquiry. Can print certificates of good standing online. Contains UCC administrative rules.

Oregon Office of the Secretary of State (www.sos.state.or.us)
Contains database of active UCC filings and business registry database.

P

Pennsylvania Department of State, Corporation Bureau
www.dos.state.pa.us/corps/
Contains filing guidelines and fees for business entities (corporations, LLPs, limited partnerships); UCC information, fees and forms; instructions for filing a state trademark; online databases to search for names; and UCC database to search for financing statement records.


R

Rhode Island Corporations Division (www.corps.state.ri.us/corporations.htm)
Includes corporations database searchable by name, ID number, agent, officer or purpose statement; new corporate listings added weekly.


S

South Carolina Secretary of State (www.scsos.com)
Can search corporation database by corporate name or registered agent; gives name, address of agent and dates, types of filings. Can search UCC database by debtor, creditor, document number; gives names, addresses, types and dates of filings.

T

Tennessee Department of State, Division of Business Services
www.state.tn.us/sos/service.htm
Can search databases of business information, name availability, UCC filings and trademarks. Includes recent changes in business laws; filing guides, forms and fee schedules for UCC filings and for corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships. Provides information about applying for, renewing and assigning trademarks and service marks, with forms; online change of address form; business name availability guidelines; statistics on new business formations and active businesses on file; and corporation and UCC statutes.

Texas Office of the Secretary of State (www.sos.state.tx.us)
Provides information about the corporation and UCC sections; online filing; rules; forms; fee schedule; and filing guide. The office publishes a weekly online and print newsletter that includes the governor's executive orders, appointments and proclamations; attorney general opinions; proposed, withdrawn and adopted rules; Department of Insurance exempt filings; and a review of agency rules. Links to full text of Texas Administrative Code and corporation laws. The Secretary of State Online Access system provides subscribers, after registering and setting up a deposit account, with online access to the secretary's database, which includes information on corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, assumed names, state trademarks and state UCC records.

U

Utah Department of Commerce (www.commerce.state.ut.us)
Can search corporate information database for business names or business name availability. Registered users can search for businesses by registered principal name. Can renew business registration online; can search UCC filings database and submit UCC filings online.


V

Vermont Secretary of State (www.sec.state.vt.us)
Searchable online databases include: corporate name finder with the option of printing reports in regular or annual report format, UCC debtor name search, trade name registry (search for DBAs), trademark database, name reservation database, and licensing database to find out if someone has a professional license of any kind from the Office of Professional Regulation.

Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk
www.state.va.us/scc/division/clk/
Contains UCC filing rules; forms; fee schedules; corporation FAQs; Business Registration Guide; corporation rules and regulations. Provides database of information on corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and limited partnerships. UCC filing is available via online Direct Access.


W

Washington Office of the Secretary of State (www.secstate.wa.gov)
Provides information about registration and renewal requirements for corporations, limited partnerships and other entities; registration forms and fee schedule. Provides link to the state Unified Business Identifier (Uniform Business Identifier) program that allows businesses to fulfill many licensing and registration requirements by completing one master application and making a single payment. Can look up registration information on corporations and other business entities that register with the office by name or UBI number. Can renew corporation license and file annual report online.

West Virginia Secretary of State (www.wvsos.com)
Business and Corporations contains information about filings, forms and fees; information on trademark registration, forms and fees. Uniform Commercial Code section contains the basics of West Virginia law on secured transactions. Can access Business Organizations Data System Online, which allows visitors to access trade names and records of corporations and other business entities. Can perform name reservations and registrations.

Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (www.wdfi.org)
Corporate Registration Information System provides information on business entities registered in Wisconsin, including name availability and reservation, officer/director names, transaction status and record with dates; information about out-of-state corporation registration. Can order certificates of status online. Provides QuickStart LLC online application for creating a Wisconsin limited liability company; forms; fee schedules; corporation statutes and rules. Includes UCC online filing, search, termination; information; forms; fees; statutes and rules.

Wyoming Secretary of State (soswy.state.wy.us)
Corporations Division provides information on state registration and filing fees for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and sole proprietorships. Provides information on trademark registration and forms; lists fees and provides forms for UCC filings. Can search database of business entity records.

The Corporate Library (www.thecorporatelibrary.com)
Repository for research and study about the nature of the modern global corporation, with a focus on corporate governance and the relationship between company management, boards and shareholders. Visitors can access news briefs and news archives. Can browse databases of companies on the S&P 500 and their directors to find corporate and officer information, SEC filings and news articles. Subscribers can browse entire database of 1,500 companies, 12,000 directors and shareholder proposals. Spotlight Topics contains articles and analyses that focus on specific companies and issues.

U.S. Data Search (www.usdatasearch.com)
Provides fee-based searches for people, pre-employment checks, and searches of telephone directories, criminal records, civil records, motor vehicle records.

USSearch.com (www.ussearch.com)
Resource for searching public records of an individual or a business. Fee is charged for all services, but registered users receive a discount. Searches include multiple public records searches, multiple court records searches, licensing searches and credit reports.