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The Daily Insight

Are Delaware certificates of incorporation public?

Author

Henry Morales

Published Feb 26, 2026

The public can obtain any Delaware company’s Certificate of Incorporation simply by contacting the state and paying a fee; however, whether or not the public can ascertain the person/people behind the company depends on which, and how much, information appears on the Certificate of Incorporation.

Why do companies base themselves in Delaware?

There are two major reasons for Delaware’s dominance of the corporate incorporation business. The other major reason corporations choose to incorporate in Delaware is the quality of Delaware courts and judges. Delaware has a special court, the Court of Chancery, to rule on corporate law disputes without juries.

Can a Delaware corporation do business in another state?

A corporation formed under Delaware state law benefits from the relaxed interest rules to the extent it conducts business in Delaware, but is subject to restrictions of other states’ laws if it conducts business in other states.

What is a sole proprietorship in the state of Delaware?

What Is a Delaware Sole Proprietor? As opposed to a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), the sole proprietorship is not a legal business entity. The sole proprietorship is a one-person business that is not considered to be a distinct entity from the person who owns it, and it is frequently operated using the owner’s personal name.

How to file a certificate of incorporation in Delaware?

The Certificate of Formation (or Certificate of Incorporation) which is registered and filed with the Delaware Secretary of State can contain the names of the initial directors or members of the company. Alternatively, it can be filed anonymously; that is, without naming the directors or members on the certificate.

What makes Delaware a good place to incorporate?

More than one million business entities take advantage of Delaware’s complete package of incorporation services, including modern and flexible corporate laws, our highly-respected Judiciary and legal community, a business-friendly government, and the customer-service-oriented staff of the Division of Corporations.