Virginia Limited Liability Company Articles of Organization

Last Revised: March 8, 2023.

About this Form

An articles of organization form is the document that one must complete and submit to the state to establish the creation of an LLC within the Commonwealth of Virginia. It sets forth the name of the proposed company, and it may set forth other provisions, provided that they are not inconsistent with state law. The purchased version of this form is guaranteed compliant with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It comes complete with instructions and filing information for creating an LLC within the state. Upon the state's successful processing of the articles of organization form, the state will issue a certificate of organization.

Accepted Filing Methods

Virginia accepts the filing of an articles of organization form via U.S. mail or online via the Virginia Secretary of State's online system for e-filing documents. The state encourages online filing by processing in real-time formation documents that are e-filed, while taking 1-3 weeks to process those that are received by postal mail. Electronic filers will receive a certificate of organization immediately.

Name Availability & Requirements

The requirements for naming an LLC within the state are set forth in Va. Code Ann. § 13.1-1012. The name of the LLC must contain the words "limited company" or "limited liability company" or their abbreviations "L.C.," "LC," "L.L.C.," or "LLC." The name must be distinguishable from those of all other entities on file with the state. It may not infringe on any active trademark registered with the state or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. One may search online the USPTO's trademark database.

One may determine the availability of a proposed business name for use within Virginia by querying the state's official Business Search tool.

Required Fees

Virginia imposes a fee of $100 for the filing of articles of organization.

Statutory Authority & Requirements

The statutory authority for an LLC within the Commonwealth of Virginia is set forth in Va. Code Ann. § 13.1-1000 et seq.

The statutory requirements for a valid articles of organization filing are codified in Va. Code Ann. § 13.1-1003 and § 13.1-1011. The text of the statutes read as follows:

§ 13.1-1003.  Filing requirements.

A. A document shall satisfy the requirements of this section, and of any other section that adds to or varies these requirements, to be entitled to be filed with the Commission.
B. The document shall be one that this chapter requires or permits to be filed with the Commission.
C. The document shall contain the information required by this chapter. It may contain other information as well.
D. The document shall be typewritten or printed or, if electronically transmitted, shall be in a format that can be retrieved or reproduced in typewritten or printed form. The typewritten or printed portion shall be in black. Photocopies, or other reproduced copies, of typewritten or printed documents may be filed. In every case, information in the document shall be legible and the document shall be capable of being reformatted and reproduced in copies of archival quality.
E. The document shall be in the English language. A limited liability company name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals. The articles of organization, duly authenticated by the official having custody of the applicable records in the state or country under whose law the limited liability company is formed, which are required of foreign limited liability companies, need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.
F. The document shall be signed in the name of the domestic or foreign limited liability company:
1. By any manager or other person who has been delegated the right and power to manage the business and affairs of the limited liability company, or if no managers or such other persons have been selected, by any member of the limited liability company;
2. If the limited liability company has not been formed, or has been formed without any managers or members and no members have been admitted, by an organizer;
3. In the case of a foreign limited liability company, by a person who is authorized to sign an amendment to the articles of organization or other constituent documents delivered for filing to the Secretary of State or other official having custody of limited liability company records in the state or other jurisdiction under whose law it is formed; or
4. If the limited liability company is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
G. The person executing the document shall sign it and state beneath or opposite his signature his name and the capacity in which he signs. Any signature may be a facsimile.
H. If, pursuant to any provision of this chapter, the Commission has prescribed a mandatory form for the document, the document shall be in or on the prescribed form.
I. The document shall be delivered to the Commission for filing and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee and any registration fee required by this chapter.
J. The Commission may accept the electronic filing of any information required or permitted to be filed by this chapter and may prescribe the methods of execution, recording, reproduction and certification of electronically filed information pursuant to § 59.1-496.

§ 13.1-1011.  Articles of organization.

A. The articles of organization shall set forth:
1. A name for the limited liability company that satisfies the requirements of § 13.1-1012;
2. The post office address, including the street and number, if any, of the limited liability company's initial registered office, the name of the city or county in which it is located, the name of its initial registered agent at that office, and that the agent is either (i) an individual who is a resident of Virginia and one of the following: a member or manager of the limited liability company, a member or manager of a limited liability company that is a member or manager of the limited liability company, an officer or director of a corporation that is a member or manager of the limited liability company, a general partner of a general or limited partnership that is a member or manager of the limited liability company, a trustee of a trust that is a member or manager of the limited liability company, or a member of the Virginia State Bar or (ii) a domestic or foreign stock or nonstock corporation, limited liability company or registered limited liability partnership authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth; and
3. The post office address, including the street and number, if any, of the principal office of the limited liability company, which may be the same as the registered office, but need not be within the Commonwealth.
B. The articles of organization may set forth any other matter that under this chapter is permitted to be set forth in an operating agreement of a limited liability company.
C. The articles of organization need not set forth any of the powers enumerated in this chapter.
D. If the Commission finds that the articles of organization comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of organization.