{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-488.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-488.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-488.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-488.html"}],"law_id":76789,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76789,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-488","catch_line":"Certificate of incorporation","history":"1950, p. 589; 1956, c. 434.","full_text":"The certificate of incorporation shall be entitled and endorsed “Certificate of Incorporation of the…….. Telephone Co-operative” (the blank space being filled in with the distinguishing part of the name of the cooperative) and shall state:\n\n1\n\nThe name of the cooperative, which name need not contain the word “corporation” or “incorporated” but shall be such as to distinguish it from any other cooperative.2\n\nA reasonable designation of the territory in which its operations are principally to be conducted.3\n\nThe location of its principal office and post-office address thereof.4\n\nThe maximum number of directors, not less than five.5\n\nThe names and post-office addresses of the officers and directors who are to manage the affairs of the cooperative for the first year of its existence, or until their successors are chosen.6\n\nThe period, if any, limited for the duration of the cooperative.7\n\nThe terms and conditions upon which persons shall be admitted to membership in the cooperative, and in the case of a cooperative incorporating with capital stock a statement of the maximum and minimum amount of the capital stock of the cooperative, and its division into shares.\n\t\t\tThe certificate of incorporation may also contain any provision not inconsistent with Title 13.1 which the incorporators may choose to insert for the regulation of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the cooperative; and any provision as to the plan of financial organization, or relating to the internal regulation or government of the cooperative, its directors and members.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":275729,"text":"The certificate of incorporation shall be entitled and endorsed “Certificate of Incorporation of the…….. Telephone Co-operative” (the blank space being filled in with the distinguishing part of the name of the cooperative) and shall state:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":275730,"text":"The name of the cooperative, which name need not contain the word “corporation” or “incorporated” but shall be such as to distinguish it from any other cooperative.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":275731,"text":"A reasonable designation of the territory in which its operations are principally to be conducted.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":275732,"text":"The location of its principal office and post-office address thereof.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":275733,"text":"The maximum number of directors, not less than five.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":275734,"text":"The names and post-office addresses of the officers and directors who are to manage the affairs of the cooperative for the first year of its existence, or until their successors are chosen.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":275735,"text":"The period, if any, limited for the duration of the cooperative.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":275736,"text":"The terms and conditions upon which persons shall be admitted to membership in the cooperative, and in the case of a cooperative incorporating with capital stock a statement of the maximum and minimum amount of the capital stock of the cooperative, and its division into shares.\n\t\t\tThe certificate of incorporation may also contain any provision not inconsistent with Title 13.1 which the incorporators may choose to insert for the regulation of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the cooperative; and any provision as to the plan of financial organization, or relating to the internal regulation or government of the cooperative, its directors and members.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14091,"edition_id":1,"name":"Telephone Cooperatives Act","identifier":"16","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:51","permalink":{"id":250125,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14091,"identifier":"16","token":"56\/16","url":"\/56\/16\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63853,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-485","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/56-485\/","token":"56\/16\/56-485","metadata":false},{"id":85481,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-486","catch_line":"Who may form cooperative; purpose","url":"\/56-486\/","token":"56\/16\/56-486","metadata":false},{"id":70906,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-487","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-487\/","token":"56\/16\/56-487","metadata":false},{"id":76789,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-488","catch_line":"Certificate of incorporation","url":"\/56-488\/","token":"56\/16\/56-488","metadata":false},{"id":74509,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-489","catch_line":"Limitation of use of words \"telephone cooperative.\"","url":"\/56-489\/","token":"56\/16\/56-489","metadata":false},{"id":85742,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-490","catch_line":"Filing certificate of incorporation","url":"\/56-490\/","token":"56\/16\/56-490","metadata":false},{"id":84965,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-491","catch_line":"Board of directors; officers","url":"\/56-491\/","token":"56\/16\/56-491","metadata":false},{"id":77358,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-492","catch_line":"Powers of board of directors","url":"\/56-492\/","token":"56\/16\/56-492","metadata":false},{"id":65385,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-493","catch_line":"Membership; voting; nonprofit operation","url":"\/56-493\/","token":"56\/16\/56-493","metadata":false},{"id":64616,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-494","catch_line":"Service to members; to nonmembers","url":"\/56-494\/","token":"56\/16\/56-494","metadata":false},{"id":87301,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-495","catch_line":"Powers granted corporation","url":"\/56-495\/","token":"56\/16\/56-495","metadata":false},{"id":84850,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-496","catch_line":"Disposition of property","url":"\/56-496\/","token":"56\/16\/56-496","metadata":false},{"id":68695,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-497","catch_line":"Issue of obligations","url":"\/56-497\/","token":"56\/16\/56-497","metadata":false},{"id":67120,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-498","catch_line":"Covenants","url":"\/56-498\/","token":"56\/16\/56-498","metadata":false},{"id":73742,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-499","catch_line":"Purchase of own obligations","url":"\/56-499\/","token":"56\/16\/56-499","metadata":false},{"id":87088,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-500","catch_line":"Consolidation or merger","url":"\/56-500\/","token":"56\/16\/56-500","metadata":false},{"id":77715,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-501","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-501\/","token":"56\/16\/56-501","metadata":false},{"id":61079,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-501.1","catch_line":"Payment of certain patronage capital to spouse or next of kin of deceased person","url":"\/56-501.1\/","token":"56\/16\/56-501.1","metadata":false},{"id":71418,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-502","catch_line":"Regulation by State Corporation Commission","url":"\/56-502\/","token":"56\/16\/56-502","metadata":false},{"id":65253,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-503","catch_line":"Dissolution","url":"\/56-503\/","token":"56\/16\/56-503","metadata":false},{"id":80777,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-504","catch_line":"Charter amendments","url":"\/56-504\/","token":"56\/16\/56-504","metadata":false},{"id":86446,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-505","catch_line":"Charter fees","url":"\/56-505\/","token":"56\/16\/56-505","metadata":false},{"id":72543,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-506","catch_line":"Construction of chapter; conflicting laws","url":"\/56-506\/","token":"56\/16\/56-506","metadata":false},{"id":55217,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-507","catch_line":"Adoption of provisions by existing corporation","url":"\/56-507\/","token":"56\/16\/56-507","metadata":false},{"id":81225,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-508","catch_line":"Extension of service to territory not being served","url":"\/56-508\/","token":"56\/16\/56-508","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":70906,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-487","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-487\/","token":"56\/16\/56-487","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74509,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-489","catch_line":"Limitation of use of words \"telephone cooperative.\"","url":"\/56-489\/","token":"56\/16\/56-489","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-488\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1956, chapter 434.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":250139,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76789,"identifier":"56-488","token":"56\/16\/56-488","url":"\/56-488\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-488\/","token":"56\/16\/56-488","dublin_core":{"Title":"Certificate of incorporation","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-488","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The certificate of incorporation shall be entitled and endorsed “Certificate of Incorporation of the…….. Telephone Co-operative” (the blank space being filled in with the distinguishing part of the name of the cooperative<\/span>) and shall state:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The name of the cooperative<\/span>, which name need not contain the word “corporation<\/span>” or “incorporated” but shall be such as to distinguish it from any other cooperative<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> A reasonable designation of the territory in which its operations are principally to be conducted. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The location of its principal office and post-office address thereof. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The maximum number of directors, not less than five. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> The names and post-office addresses of the officers and directors who are to manage the affairs of the cooperative<\/span> for the first year of its existence, or until their successors are chosen. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> The period, if any, limited for the duration of the cooperative<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> The terms and conditions upon which persons<\/span> shall be admitted to membership in the cooperative<\/span>, and in the case of a cooperative<\/span> incorporating with capital stock a statement of the maximum and minimum amount of the capital stock of the cooperative<\/span>, and its division into shares.\n\t\t\tThe certificate of incorporation may also contain any provision not inconsistent with Title 13.1 which the incorporators may choose to insert for the regulation of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the cooperative<\/span>; and any provision as to the plan of financial organization, or relating to the internal regulation or government of the cooperative<\/span>, its directors and members<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION (\u00a7 56-488)\n\nThe certificate of incorporation shall be entitled and endorsed\n“Certificate of Incorporation of the…….. Telephone\nCo-operative” (the blank space being filled in with the distinguishing\npart of the name of the cooperative) and shall state:\n\n1. The name of the cooperative, which name need not contain the word\n“corporation” or “incorporated” but shall be such as to\ndistinguish it from any other cooperative.\n\n2. A reasonable designation of the territory in which its operations are\nprincipally to be conducted.\n\n3. The location of its principal office and post-office address thereof.\n\n4. The maximum number of directors, not less than five.\n\n5. The names and post-office addresses of the officers and directors who are to\nmanage the affairs of the cooperative for the first year of its existence, or\nuntil their successors are chosen.\n\n6. The period, if any, limited for the duration of the cooperative.\n\n7. The terms and conditions upon which persons shall be admitted to membership\nin the cooperative, and in the case of a cooperative incorporating with capital\nstock a statement of the maximum and minimum amount of the capital stock of the\ncooperative, and its division into shares.\n\t\t\tThe certificate of incorporation may also contain any provision not\ninconsistent with Title 13.1 which the incorporators may choose to insert for\nthe regulation of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the\ncooperative; and any provision as to the plan of financial organization, or\nrelating to the internal regulation or government of the cooperative, its\ndirectors and members.\n\nHISTORY: 1950, p. 589; 1956, c. 434.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}