Certificate of incorporation

Legal document for corporations

A certificate of incorporation is a legal document/license relating to the formation of a company or corporation. It is a license to form a corporation issued by the state government or, in some jurisdictions, by a non-governmental entity/corporation.[1] Its precise meaning depends upon the legal system in which it is used.

## Commonwealth systems

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In the U.S. a certificate of incorporation is usually used as an alternative description of a corporation's articles of incorporation. The certificate of incorporation, or articles of incorporation, form a major constituent part of the constitutional documents of the corporation. In English and Commonwealth legal systems, a certificate of incorporation is usually a simple certificate issued by the relevant government registry as confirmation of the due incorporation and valid existence of the company.

In other common law legal systems, the certificate of incorporation has less legal significance. However, it has been held by the House of Lords in Cotman v Brougham (1918), AC 514, that because the issue of the certificate of incorporation is conclusive evidence of the formation of a company, the issuance of the certificate overrides any irregularities which may have occurred during the formation of the company.[2]

## Vietnam

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In Vietnam, the Certificate of incorporation plays a crucial role.[3][4] It not only serves as a confirmation of the legal existence of a business but also constitutes an indispensable part of the company's legal documentation.[5] This certificate records fundamental information about the enterprise, including its name, registration number, address, business lines, charter capital, and other essential details.[6][7][8]

## Hong Kong

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The Hong Kong Certificate of Incorporation is an official document confirming that a company is legally registered in Hong Kong.[9][10][11] This legal document confirms that the company is officially registered and legally recognized in Hong Kong. The certificate contains a unique identification number and is available in English and traditional Chinese languages.[12][13]

This official certificate is mandatory for two types of limited liability companies in Hong Kong: joint stock companies and limited liability companies. It is governed by the Companies Regulations, a legal provision that facilitates the issuance of this document to Hong Kong companies in the region.[14][15] Only limited liability companies require a certificate of incorporation, which is issued by the Registrar of Companies.[16]

The Companies Ordinance was updated in 2014 and aims to modernize Hong Kong's corporate laws and further enhance Hong Kong's status as a major international business and financial center.[17][18]

In Hong Kong, regardless of whether certificates of registration are issued in electronic or paper form, they have the same legal effect. This ensures that electronic certificates are just as legitimate and legally binding as paper copies.

## References

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1. ^ O'Sullivan, Arthur; Sheffrin, Steven M. (2003). Economics: Principles in Action. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458: Pearson Prentice Hall. p. 197\. ISBN 0-13-063085-3.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location (link)
2. ^ Hamish R. Gray (Sep 1960). "Cotman v. Brougham and the Ultra Vires Rule". The Modern Law Review. 23 (5): 561–563. JSTOR 1092095.
3. ^ tcct (2021-10-25). "Đăng ký doanh nghiệp theo pháp luật Việt Nam: Thực tiễn tại Thành phố". Tạp chí Công Thương (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2024-09-24.
4. ^ "Đăng ký doanh nghiệp theo quy định của Luật Doanh nghiệp năm 2020". tapchinganhang.gov.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2024-09-24.
5. ^ "07 quy định về Giấy chứng nhận đăng ký doanh nghiệp". thuvienphapluat.vn. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
6. ^ "GCN đầu tư và giấy đăng ký kinh doanh khác nhau thế nào?". baochinhphu.vn (in Vietnamese). 2016-07-17. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
7. ^ "Company establishment services" (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2024-09-24.
8. ^ "05 điều cần biết về Giấy chứng nhận đăng ký doanh nghiệp". THƯ VIỆN PHÁP LUẬT. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
9. ^ "Certificate of Incorporation Hong Kong: What It Is & How It Works". statrys.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
10. ^ "Hong Kong Certificate of Incorporation - An Introduction". www.chinacheckup.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
11. ^ "Why do Hong Kong companies require a certificate of incorporation?". www.paulhypepage.com.hk. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
12. ^ "How to register a new company?". www.cr.gov.hk. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
13. ^ "Hong Kong Company Documents". www.systemday.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
14. ^ "A Certificate of Incorporation in Hong Kong". emerhub.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
15. ^ "Certificate of Incorporation & Business Certificate". startupregistry.hk. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
16. ^ "Why You Need a Certificate of Incorporation in Hong Kong". air-corporate.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
17. ^ "Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)". www.cr.gov.hk. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
18. ^ "New Hong Kong Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)". kpmg.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.