How to Amend a Missouri Articles of Incorporation

When a Missouri corporation makes changes to key business information, the corporation must file an amendment with the state. This process is typically referred to as a Missouri Amendment of Articles of Incorporation, and it keeps the state and the public up-to-date on vital corporate information. Here’s how to file an amendment to a corporation in Missouri.

What are Missouri Articles of Incorporation?

Missouri Articles of Incorporation are the backbone of your registered Missouri business. They set out your corporate name, purpose, address, and other vital corporate information. This type of information gives the State of Missouri and the public insight into who you are and what your corporation does. 

Forming a corporation is hard, and a lot of information is required. Let us help you make it easy. Our Missouri corporate formation services can streamline the process of forming a Missouri corporation, backed by our professional support staff.

Step 1: Determine if you need to change your Missouri Articles of Incorporation

Articles of Incorporation are required by the state to confirm the corporation’s legal status as a business in that state. They’re also required to give you, as the business owner, and the corporation the benefits you’ve worked so hard to obtain, like limited personal liability and certain corporate tax benefits. If any Articles of Incorporation information needs to be added, deleted, changed, or updated, then the business would notify the State of Missouri.

Why would I need to notify the state of changes?

As a newer business owner, or as someone who hasn’t had to file an amendment to a corporation in Missouri before, it may seem overwhelming to have to notify the state about changes. Here are reasons that a business would make amendments to their Articles of Incorporation

• Update public information for contact purposes
• Modify registered agent for service of process
• Make changes for compliance and auditing purposes

We can help you stay on top of these types of changes and more with our Worry-Free Compliance service. We can help you with state filings, annual compliance, and the service comes with two free annual amendments to your articles to help keep your business running smoothly.

There aren’t direct financial penalties for failure to file amendments to your Articles of Incorporation. The biggest penalty is that a corporation will be unable to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing if its Articles of Incorporation aren’t properly amended and updated. This certificate demonstrates that the company is in compliance with the laws and its public information is up-to-date with the Secretary of State of Missouri.

Inability to get a Certificate of Good Standing limits a corporation’s growth. Without a Certificate of Good standing, a company is generally not able to do the following and more

• Open corporate bank accounts
• Obtain and maintain business licenses
• Qualify for business credit
• Expand the business into other states or countries

While the penalties for failure to file an amendment to your Articles of Incorporation might not be a direct fine from the state, the losses will quickly pile up if you don’t keep your documents up to date.

Step 2: Review the requirements for your Missouri amendment 

What changes need to be reported?

You need to report any changes you make to your Articles of Incorporation or your business through an amendment. You’re allowed to make virtually any change you like to your Articles of Incorporation as long as the change is legal under Missouri law. 

You will want to attach supporting documentation wherever it’s available. Attaching board meeting minutes, records of shareholder votes, and similar materials is important to help the Secretary of State approve your filing. 

Step 3: Gather information for your Missouri amendment

To change your registered agent, you will need to make a separate filing on a Statement of Change of Registered Agent form. You can’t change your registered agent through a corporate amendment. 

Making a minor correction to your Articles of Incorporation or other business information does not require a corporate amendment either. Instead, your registered business would file a Statement of Correction. This form can be used to correct any typos or misinformation in your Articles of Incorporation. 

Let us help you manage your business compliance with our Worry-Free Compliance services. In addition to helping you form your Missouri corporation or other registered business entity, we can assist with registered agent services and corporate amendments. Our services can streamline your business compliance to help keep you focused on the work you do best!

See How We Can Help You Grow Your Missouri Business Today!

Keeping your corporation’s Articles of Incorporation up to date is important to the health of your business. We help business owners keep compliant by leveraging our Worry-Free Compliance services to assist with state business compliance, along with up to two corporate amendments annually.