Which document serves as the legal means by which a company is incorporated and becomes part of the public record?

• A. Articles of Incorporation
• B. Articles of Organization
• C. Bylaws
• D. Memorandum of Association

Answer: (A)

When a company is formed, the essential step is filing a charter with the appropriate state authority. The document that legally creates the corporation and makes it part of the public record is the Articles of Incorporation. Filing this document establishes the corporate entity and lists key details such as the name, purpose, registered agent, principal office, and the number of authorized shares. After incorporation, bylaws govern internal operations, while articles of organization are used for forming an LLC, and a memorandum of association appears in certain jurisdictions as a founding charter. In short, the Articles of Incorporation are the instrument that creates the corporation and places its existence on public record.