|
How to Find Business Records in Kentucky
Kentucky Business Records
Searching for Business Records in Kentucky
In Kentucky, it is the duty of the Secretary of State to maintain
certain important business documents, including evidence of
incorporation, records about trademarks, and Uniform Commercial Code
filings. These documents can be accessed and viewed by the public. Here
are a few tips to assist you in accessing these records.
What Records Are Maintained by the Kentucky Secretary of State?
When a business incorporates, it is necessary to file documents
memorializing the incorporation with the Secretary of State. These
documents are matters of public record.
Additionally, the Kentucky Secretary of State maintains UCC, or Uniform
Commercial Code, filings. These filings document security interests, or
liens that a secured party has in a debtor�s collateral in exchange for
a loan.
Finally, the Secretary of State in Kentucky maintains records pertaining
to a state registry of trademarks that are claimed by Kentucky
businesses. It must be remembered that this is neither a national
registry, nor even a smaller branch of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office; instead, the Kentucky trademark records are entirely
separate from the national registry maintained by the Patent and
Trademark Office, and should not be used as a substitute for a national
trademark search.
Why Would a Business Not Have Documents On File?
First, not all businesses incorporate. Therefore, it is possible that a
business would have no documents on file because it is an unincorporated
business.
It is also possible that the business in question incorporated in a
state other than Kentucky. Many businesses choose to incorporate in
states other than where their offices are located, in order to take
advantage of the laws of that state. If you are trying to determine
where a business may have incorporated outside of Kentucky, the State of
Delaware is a good starting place, since Delaware has a reputation for
having advantageous business laws.
How Can I Search for Records Maintained by the Kentucky Secretary of
State?
For businesses incorporated in the State of Kentucky, records of the
corporation�s formation and status may be accessed either on site or
online. If you wish to visit the Corporations Division, Records Branch
of the Kentucky Secretary of State, the address is: 700 Capital Avenue,
Suite 156, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601.
If you wish to search for Kentucky business records online, begin by
going to the website for the Kentucky Secretary of State, located at:
http://sos.ky.gov/. To search for Kentucky business entities, scroll
over �Business Services� and click on �Business Records.� This takes you
to a page providing some basic information on the records maintained by
the Secretary of State. To proceed to the search page, click on the
words �click here� in the third paragraph. On the search page, enter the
name of a business or its organization number. You will then be able to
access information for entities matching the search terms, including the
precise name of the entity, the organization number, company type,
status, state of incorporation, standing, date of filing, date of last
annual report, the principal address, the identity of the registered
agent, and information about the directors and incorporators. If there
are scanned images that may be viewed, links to these items will appear
as well.
To search for UCC filings, from the home page scroll over �Business
Services� and click on �UCC.� Scroll down the screen to find the words
�Uniform Commercial Code Index Search.� Clicking on this link will take
you to a page where you can input your search terms including name or
filing number. For filings made prior to June 29, 2001, it may be
necessary to perform a non-standard search. The link to this search page
is included above the search window, and operates the same way as the
standard search page. A non-standard search allows for partial matches
of a name, rather than requiring precise matches. The two search
procedures are available due to a change in the law effective July 1,
2001, when it became a requirement to use the exact legal organization
name in a filing. Either way, the results will be returned in list form,
including the debtor�s name as a clickable link to obtain additional
information about the filing, the identity of the debtor and secured
party, the date filed, and a description of the collateral.
To search for trademarks and service marks, from the home page scroll
over �Business Services� and select �Trademarks and Service Marks.�
Scrolling down, click on the words �click here� which will take you to a
search page where you can determine the method of search, whether the
results list should include results that match all keywords or any
keywords, and where your keywords can be entered. It should be
remembered that this trademark search pertaining only to a state
registry maintained in Kentucky and is not the same as the national
registry maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Order right now and get Unlimited Access to
sources for Kentucky Business Records, Corporate Registry Files, Due Diligence,
Background Checks and more!
|
