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How to Find Business Records in Mississippi
Searching for Business Records in Mississippi
In the State of Mississippi, the duty of maintaining important business
records such as documentation of incorporation falls to the Secretary of
State. Here are some suggestions about accessing these records over the
internet.
What Records Are Maintained by the Mississippi Secretary of State?
In Mississippi, certain types of business forms such as the corporation
are required to file documentation with the Mississippi Secretary of
State when they incorporate. These records are maintained by the
Mississippi Secretary of State and can be viewed by members of the
public over the internet.
Additionally, the Mississippi Secretary of State maintains records of
UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) filings. These records document security
interests. For instance, if a secured party loans money to a debtor and
takes a security interest in the debtor�s collateral in exchange, a UCC
form may be filed to document the transaction. These records are
maintained and certain information from them may be viewed for free
online.
Why Would a Business Not Have Documents On File?
Since not all businesses incorporate, or take corporate form, it is
logical that such businesses might not have documents pertaining to
incorporation on file.
Additionally, in the United States, businesses often incorporate in a
state other than their own, to take advantage of the laws of that state.
Therefore, if there are no documents on file in Mississippi pertaining
to the incorporation of a business, it should not automatically be
assumed that that business has not incorporated in any state.
How Can I Search for Records Maintained by the Mississippi Secretary of
State?
Both corporate information and UCC filing information is available
online. Begin by going to the website for the Mississippi Secretary of
State, found here: http://www.sos.state.ms.us/sos_newhomepage/default.asp.
Then scroll over the option marked �Business Services.�
To search for corporate information, while scrolling over �Business
Services,� click on the option marked �Corp Information Search.� This
will take you to a page which permits you to search for a business by
name, or by part of a name. If you only want to view search results
pertaining for business entities that still have an active status, check
the box marked �Only Active Corporations.� If you want to view results
pertaining to both active and inactive business entities, leave this box
blank.
If you only want to determine whether a desired business name is in use
or not, select the radio button marked �Name Availability,� and then
select �Search.� If no records are currently on file regarding the
desired business name, the search will simply return a result that no
records were found, and the precise date and time of the search. If the
name is already in use, the search will return the matching results
including the business name, charter number, type, status and entity
creation date. The name and charter number are clickable links leading
to additional information, including status, creation date, address,
state of incorporation, annual report month, and the registered agent.
Additionally, links are included which allow searchers to view records
on the officers and directors of the corporation, as well as to view the
documents filed pertaining to that corporation.
If you are not searching for name availability, on the Business Search
page select the radio button best corresponding with you knowledge of
the business name. You may search only the beginning of a name, or a
name that sounds like the search term. You may also search for all
search terms, any search terms, or search only for businesses whose
names are an exact match with the search terms. The search results are
returned in list form, including the name, charter number, type, status
and creation date. As with the name availability search, the name and
charter number are clickable links leading to additional information,
including status, creation date, address, state of incorporation, annual
report month, and the registered agent. Links are included which allow
searchers to view records on the officers and directors of the
corporation, as well as to view the documents filed pertaining to that
corporation.
To search for UCC filings, from the Secretary of State�s main page,
scroll over the option marked �Business Services,� and select the option
�UCC Information Search.� This will take you to a page where you can
choose to perform a �Standard RA9� name search, a �Non-Standard RA9�
name search, or a search by filing number. The non-standard RA9 permits
a search based upon parts of words or sound-alike names. The standard
RA9 search does not provide these options but only includes a window to
search for an individual or business name.
Search results are returned in a list, including file number, filing
date, name and address. The file numbers appear as blue clickable links
which can be clicked for additional information, including the filing
type, documents filed, the lapse date, and identification of the debtor
and secured party. On this page, small folder icons can be clicked to
view images of documents if you have a subscription to the service. If
you do not, you will be taken to a page providing information about
obtaining a subscription to the service.
Order right now and get Unlimited Access to
sources for Mississippi Business Records, Corporate Registry Files, Due Diligence,
Background Checks and more!
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