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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72443</law_id><section_number>13.1-819</section_number><catch_line>Articles of incorporation</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>13.1-722.10</reference><reference>13.1-804</reference><reference>13.1-804.1</reference><reference>13.1-898.2</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="10">Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Formation of Corporations</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> shall set forth: <a id="paragraph-260929" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A corporate name for the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> that satisfies the requirements of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Corporate name" href="/13.1-829/">13.1-829</a>. <a id="paragraph-260930" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> is to have no <span class="dictionary">members</span>, a statement to that effect. <a id="paragraph-260931" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> is to have one or more classes of <span class="dictionary">members</span>, any provision which the incorporators elect to set forth in the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> or, if the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> so provide, in the bylaws designating the class or classes of <span class="dictionary">members</span>, stating the qualifications and rights of the <span class="dictionary">members</span> of each class and conferring, limiting or denying the right to vote. <a id="paragraph-260932" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">directors</span> or any of them are not to be elected or appointed by one or more classes of <span class="dictionary">members</span>, a statement of the manner in which such <span class="dictionary">directors</span> shall be elected or appointed, and a designation of ex officio <span class="dictionary">directors</span>, if any. <a id="paragraph-260933" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The address of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>&#x2019;s initial registered office (including both (i) the post-office address with street and number, if any, and (ii) the name of the city or county in which it is located), and the name of its initial registered agent at that office, and that the agent is either (i) an <span class="dictionary">individual</span> who is a resident of Virginia and either a <span class="dictionary">director</span> of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> or a <span class="dictionary">member</span> of the Virginia <span class="dictionary">State</span> Bar or (ii) a domestic or foreign stock or nonstock <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>, limited liability company or <span class="dictionary">registered limited liability partnership</span> authorized to <span class="dictionary">transact business</span> in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-260934" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> may set forth: <a id="paragraph-260935" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The names and addresses of the <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> who are to serve as the initial <span class="dictionary">directors</span>; <a id="paragraph-260936" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Provisions not inconsistent with <span class="dictionary">law</span>:
				a. Stating the purpose or purposes for which the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> is organized;
				b. Regarding the management of the business and regulation of the affairs of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>;
				c. Defining, limiting and regulating the powers of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>, its <span class="dictionary">directors</span>, and its <span class="dictionary">members</span>; and
				d. Any provision that under this Act is required or permitted to be set forth in the bylaws. <a id="paragraph-260937" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> need not set forth any of the corporate powers enumerated in this Act. <a id="paragraph-260938" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Provisions of the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> may be made dependent upon <span class="dictionary">facts</span> objectively ascertainable outside the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> in accordance with subsection L of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Filing requirements" href="/13.1-804/">13.1-804</a>. <a id="paragraph-260939" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Except as provided in subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Number and election of directors" href="/13.1-855/">13.1-855</a>, whenever a provision of the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> is inconsistent with a bylaw, the provision of the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> shall be controlling. <a id="paragraph-260940" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-819/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 13.1-231; 1956, c. 428; 1958, c. 564; 1975, c. 500; 1982, c. 182; 1985, c. 522; 1986, c. 622; 1993, c. 113; 2000, c. 162; 2001, cc. 517, 541; 2007, c. 925.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
