To find a Texas corporation’s articles of incorporation online, use the Secretary of State’s SOSDirect portal to search by entity name or filing number and order a copy of the document. One terminology note before you start: Texas doesn’t use the phrase “articles of incorporation” in its statutes. Under the Texas Business Organizations Code, the founding document for a Texas corporation is called a Certificate of Formation.1State of Texas. Business Organizations Code Chapter 3 – Formation and Governance It’s the same document other states call articles of incorporation, and it lists the corporation’s legal name, entity type, stated purpose, and the name and street address of its registered agent.2Texas Public Law. Texas Business Organizations Code Section 3.005 – Certificate of Formation
What to Have Ready Before You Search
Start with the corporation’s exact legal name as registered with the state. A small variation, like “LLC” instead of “Inc.” or a missing comma, can pull the wrong result or none at all. If you have the entity’s Texas filing number, use that instead. The filing number runs six to ten digits and appears on state correspondence, tax documents, and prior filings.3Texas Comptroller. Franchise Tax Account Status Search Searching by filing number is more reliable than a name search because it pulls the exact entity without forcing you to sort through similarly named businesses.
If you only know a company’s trade name or brand rather than its legal name, be aware that Texas corporations operating under a different name file an assumed name certificate with the Secretary of State.4Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Name Filings FAQs More than one entity can register the same assumed name, so a DBA search won’t necessarily point you to a single corporation. Confirm the legal name through a contract, invoice, or the company’s own public filings before searching.
Searching and Ordering on SOSDirect
SOSDirect is the primary online portal for Texas business filings.5Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Business Services You don’t need a permanent account. The system offers a temporary login that lets you search and order documents without setting up a client ID.6Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Instructions for Ordering Copies and Certificates from SOSDirect
Once you’re logged in, open the business search function and enter either the entity name or the filing number. The system returns a list of matching entities. Select the correct one to see its filing history, including the original Certificate of Formation, any amendments, and any restated certificates. Add the document you need to your cart and check out with a credit card. Digital copies are delivered through your account or by email link after payment processes.
Fees You’ll Pay
A SOSDirect search costs $1.00, but that fee is waived when you place an order from the results.6Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Instructions for Ordering Copies and Certificates from SOSDirect If you’re ordering a copy anyway, the search itself costs you nothing extra.
The document fees themselves:
- Plain copy: $0.10 per page.
- Certified copy: $15.00 for the certificate plus $1.00 per page of the document.
- Certificate of Fact (Status): $15.00 per certificate.
The gap between a plain copy and a certified copy is worth watching. A 10-page Certificate of Formation runs $1.00 as a plain copy and $25.00 as a certified one. Unless a bank, attorney, or court specifically requires certification, the plain version does the job for a fraction of the cost.
Ordering by Email or Mail Instead
If you’d rather not use the online portal, you can email the Certifying Team at corpcert@sos.texas.gov or mail your request to the Secretary of State’s Certifying Team in Austin.7Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Copies and Certificates Include the corporation’s legal name, the filing number if you have it, and a clear description of the documents you want. Mail requests need a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State.8Texas Secretary of State. SOSDirect Help Me Fax is no longer accepted for copy or certificate orders.9Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Filing and Other General FAQs Email and mail requests are processed in the order received, so turnaround is slower than SOSDirect.
Confirming a Company Is Still in Good Standing
The Certificate of Formation shows how a company was organized. It doesn’t show whether that company is still active or in compliance with Texas law. For proof of current standing, order a Certificate of Fact – Status, an official statement from the Secretary of State confirming the entity’s current standing, legal name, and date of formation or registration.7Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Copies and Certificates Lenders, opposing counsel, and business partners often ask for this specifically, and a copy of the original Certificate of Formation alone won’t satisfy the request. The Certificate of Fact costs $15.00 and can be ordered through SOSDirect, by email, or by mail. The Secretary of State also runs an online Certificate Verification service to confirm the authenticity of previously issued certificates.
One boundary worth flagging: if you need to use a Texas Certificate of Formation in a foreign country, a standard copy alone usually isn’t enough. Countries that are party to the 1961 Hague Convention require an apostille, which the Texas Secretary of State issues separately for documents originally filed with the office.10The Texas Secretary of State. Apostille/Authentication Certificate Guide11Travel.State.Gov. Preparing a Document for an Apostille Certificate Order the copy first, then request the apostille as a separate step.