Discover why amending your Michigan Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation is vital for compliance and adaptability. Dive into our guide below for expert insights.
Sometimes you have to try something new to see results in business. If you try something new that changes certain aspects of your Michigan limited liability company (LLC) or corporation, that can be great! But you have to let the state know about certain business changes. The following article explains how to file an amendment to your Michigan LLC’s Articles of Organization or your corporation’s Articles of Incorporation with the state, and how we can help.
If you need to make changes to a Michigan LLC, we’ll show you how in this section. But if you need to make changes to a corporation, keep scrolling to the section titled, “Amending a Michigan Corporation Articles of Incorporation” for more information.
The Articles of Organization officially create your LLC in the state of Michigan. Said another way, your business becomes legitimate after you file Articles of Organization and the state accepts them. These Articles of Organization tell the state and the public important information about your business and must include:
Generally speaking, if you need to make changes to any of this information, you’ll need to file an amendment to your Articles of Organization.
Before you jump into the filing process, it’s helpful to narrow down the changes you’re going to make and gather the information for them. To make an amendment, you’ll use the Certificate of Amendment form. This form lets you make a variety of changes, from your LLC name, how the LLC is managed, and more, including the provisions you added. Generally speaking, if a provision is permitted by law, you can make that change.
After you’ve decided which changes you need to make, ensure that you’ve got the information on hand to make those changes. For example, if you’re going to be updating your business name, double-check that you’ve got the old name correct and that you’ve got the right spelling and designator for the new name.
During the filing process, you’ll also be asked to verify some information about your business, including your address, your ID number, and the date when you originally filed your Articles of Organization. Make sure you have this information correct so you can streamline your filing process.
Keeping your business compliant with state business regulations helps it maintain its entitlement to all of its legal benefits. When you file your entity as a legal LLC in Michigan, all information included in your filing becomes public knowledge. If your information changes but you don’t update it, the public may not have accurate contact information. Any changes in your registered agent should be reported as well since they are responsible for receiving service of process and other important communications on behalf of your business.
Your Articles of Organization are part of what makes your business legal and provides LLC protections. You need to amend your Articles of Organization to keep your LLC compliant and accurately reflect any additional provisions you include about how your business should be run. Keeping your Articles of Organization current also helps the state and the public contact you regarding important matters.
Your LLC can suffer a hefty blow if you don’t update your information. The registered office and resident agent you provide in your Articles of Organization are responsible for receiving your LLC’s legal documents and notices from the state. If you don’t keep your resident agent/registered office information current with the state, your LLC could miss an important legal deadline and be subject to a painful default judgment. Also, missing notices from the state could affect your LLC’s ability to get a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing, which could compromise your LLC’s ability to get investors and loans. Loss of good standing can also mean that your LLC loses its name and thus the goodwill you worked so hard to build.
Now it’s time to file your amendment paperwork, the Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Organization. Michigan actually allows you to file this certificate online, or you can file by mail or in person by dropping it off at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Either way, you’ll need to fill the form in with the information you gathered in step 2.
At the time of this writing, this form costs $25 to submit. Once the form is processed, your amendment will go into effect.
Need to make changes to a Michigan corporation? We’ll show you how in this section.
In Michigan, the Articles of Incorporation is the form that officially creates a corporation. Until this form is processed, your business won’t even exist. It asks for a variety of information, including:
Generally speaking, if you need to make changes to any of this information, then you’ll need to file a Certificate of Amendment.
Before you jump into the paperwork step, it’s helpful to narrow down which changes you’re going to be making and ensure that you’ve got the information you need to make those changes. You’ll file the Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation form, which lets you make a variety of changes. For example, you can change your business name or the number of shares you’re allowed to issue, and more. You could even amend any provisions you added to your original articles.
It’s helpful to gather information for these amendments before you file. For example, if you’re going to be changing your name, you’ll need to confirm your old business name and check that you’ve got the right spelling and designator for your new name.
You’ll also be asked to provide some supplemental information about your business, such as your contact information, your business ID number, and so on. You’ll even need describe the vote that approved your amendment. Having all of that information on hand can help streamline your filing process.
Now it’s time to file your paperwork. Michigan allows you to file the Certificate of Amendment online if you want. But if you prefer old-school filings, you can download the “Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation” form on LARA’s website and mail it or drop it off in-person at the department’s office. Either way, you’ll need to fill in the form with all the information you gathered in step 2.
At the time of this writing, the filing fees for this form vary based on the number of shares your corporation issued, starting at $50 and exceeding $500 for corporations with more than 10,000,000 shares. Once this form is processed, your amendment goes into effect.
Who wants to reference multiple separate documents instead of one document to get information? Probably no one. If you want your Articles of Organization and all of its amendments in one place, you can file Restated Articles of Organization or Restated Articles of Incorporation. In your Restated Articles, you need to include:
You can find the Restated Articles of Organization or Restated Articles of Incorporation form and fees online. You can file this form online, by mail, or in person. Our Worry-Free Compliance Service can simplify this task for you.
If an LLC or corporation filing contains an inaccurate record, was defectively executed, or suffered a defective electronic transmission, you can file a Certificate of Correction to fix it. Your Certificate of Correction needs to include:
You file your corrections with LARA online, by mail, or in person. You can find the Certificate of Correction form and fees online.
If you need to change your resident agent’s information, such as their name or office information, you’ll need to file a Certificate of Change of Registered Office/Resident Agent form instead of the Certificate of Amendment. This form is simpler, since it’s dedicated to this change. It’s cheaper, too ($5 at the time of this writing). You can download this form from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website.
We are here to support you, so updating your business information can be quick and painless. Our Worry-Free Compliance Service keeps your compliance filings on track and helps you get back in good standing if you slip up. And our Amendment Filing service assists you with preparing and submitting LLC or corporation amendments.
FAQ
No. You can file your amendment on your own or with our help. If you need to draft extensive amendments to your Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation, however, you might consider seeking an attorney’s advice.
You can use a Certificate of Amendment to report any changes to your original Articles of Organization/Articles of Incorporation, except for your resident agent or registered office. You must report changes to your resident agent or registered office using a Change of Registered Office/Agent form.
No. Michigan requires you to file an Annual Statement regarding your resident agent and registered office. You have to file this Annual Statement by February 15 each year, while you generally file a Certificate of Amendment whenever a change occurs.
Filing a Certificate of Amendment can take minutes. Processing a Certificate of Amendment can take multiple days. But if you pay an additional fee, LARA can process your information within one to 24 hours.
LARA returns your original Certificate of Amendment to your registered office or the office you designate on the filed form.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
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