The Secretary of State serves as the custodian of records for corporate records filed with this office. The Business Entities Section is responsible for:

• examining, processing, filing and maintaining documents relating to the formation of California (domestic) corporations, the qualification of foreign (out of state or country) corporations to transact business in California, and any amendments to the records of the domestic or qualified foreign corporations;

• responding to inquiries relating to status or other information concerning corporations of record;

• providing certificates (of status or filing) and copies of corporate documents upon request; and

• receiving and processing substituted service of process.

General provisions governing most corporations are found in the California Corporations Code commencing with sections 100 (domestic stock corporations), 5110 (domestic nonprofit public benefit corporations), 7110 (domestic nonprofit mutual benefit corporations), 9110 (domestic nonprofit religious corporations) and 2100 (foreign (out of state or country) corporations).