Corporate Records

Each corporation must keep corporate records. Corporate records detail activities of the corporation, its shareholders, directors and committees. There are many types of corporate records. Below is a list of corporate records most corporations have.

Corporation's minutes

Some states allow corporate minutes to be kept in some other forms other than written such as on the computer. Other states require that the corporate minutes be in writing. Written corporate minutes are easier to be examined.

Shareholders' records

Each corporation must have shareholders' records. The record of a corporation's shareholders details who the shareholders are as well as their shareholding details. The shareholders' records are kept at the corporation's registered office or the principal place of business. Sometimes the shareholders' records are kept at the office of the stock transfer agent. The shareholders records are audited along with the corporation's books.

Examination of books and records

The corporation's books and records must be available for any shareholders to examine and copy. The shareholders needing to examine the books will need to follow the proper procedure of giving a notice. When the books and records of the corporation are being examined, the books and records must be in written format.

Books and records that are usually examined are:

• the Articles of Incorporation and any amendments of the Articles of Incorporation
• bylaws and any amendments of the bylaws
• resolutions by the Board of Directors
• minutes of shareholders' meetings
• records of any shareholders' actions without a shareholders' meeting for the past three years
• written communications to the shareholders
• names and addresses of officers and directors
• the most recent report filed with the state corporate office.