Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Business Certificate of Resolutions

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

BUSINESS CERTIFICATE OF RESOLUTIONS

Corporate Name:

Jurisdiction of Formation:

Principal Office Address:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the corporation met in accordance with the corporation's bylaws on , and a quorum was present and acting throughout; and

WHEREAS, the Board considered and deliberated certain matters of corporate business and determined to adopt the resolutions set forth below; and

WHEREAS, the Board finds that the actions authorized herein are in the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders.

SCOPE OF AUTHORIZED ACTIONS

RESOLUTIONS

RESOLVED, that the officers of the corporation be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed to negotiate, execute and deliver on behalf of the corporation all documents and instruments necessary to effectuate the matters described in the Scope of Authorized Actions above, including without limitation contracts, amendments, certificates and notices.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the following specific authorities are granted:

PAYMENT TERMS (IF APPLICABLE)

Authorized Payment Amount:

Payment Schedule / Milestones:

Late Fee (if payment past due):

TERM AND TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY

Authority Commencement Date:

Authority Expiration Date (if any):

Notice Period for Termination of Authorized Actions:

CONFIDENTIALITY

All non-public information obtained or produced in connection with the actions authorized by these resolutions shall be maintained in confidence by the corporation and by any party acting on the corporation's behalf. Disclosure shall be permitted only as required by law or with prior written authorization from the Board.

GOVERNING LAW

This Certificate of Resolutions and any actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to conflict of laws principles.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Certificate of Resolutions constitutes the complete and exclusive statement of the resolutions adopted by the Board with respect to the matters addressed herein and supersedes all prior oral and written statements concerning such matters.

CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

I, , Secretary of the corporation, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors on the date indicated, that such resolutions remain in full force and effect and have not been amended or rescinded as of the date set forth below.

Executed this day of , .

Corporate Secretary:

By:

Date:

President / Authorized Officer:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Business Certificate of Resolutions Is

A Business Certificate of Resolutions is a formal corporate record that documents board or member approvals authorizing specific company actions. It states the approving body, describes the authorized actions (for example, opening bank accounts, designating signatories, approving major contracts), and records the effective date and any conditions. The certificate provides third parties and internal stakeholders with clear evidence that corporate governance procedures were followed, and a signed copy is normally retained with the corporate minutes and may be notarized when counterparties require confirmation.

Why a Clear Resolution Matters for Your Business

A properly completed Business Certificate of Resolutions reduces disputes about authority, speeds acceptance by banks and vendors, and preserves a reliable corporate record for audits or litigation. It clarifies limits of delegated power and documents who may act, helping protect officers, members, and the company.

Why a Clear Resolution Matters for Your Business

Who Typically Prepares and Uses This Certificate

Organizations, corporate officers, and legal teams prepare these certificates to evidence specific board or member actions for internal and external use.

  • Banks and financial institutions requesting proof of board authorization for account openings and signature authority.
  • Corporate officers and directors documenting delegated authority for contracts, banking, and real estate transactions.
  • Legal and compliance teams maintaining auditable corporate records to support audits and regulatory inquiries.

Provide signed, dated copies to counterparties and retain originals with minutes; update certificates whenever authority or officers change.

Typical Roles Involved

Corporate Secretary

Prepares and files resolutions with the corporate minute book, confirms quorum and voting outcomes, and issues certified copies to banks or third parties when required. The secretary ensures the resolution language matches bylaws and state law.

Bank Compliance Officer

Receives certified resolutions to verify who may open accounts or execute financial transactions. Banks commonly require specimen signatures, corporate formation documents, and an up-to-date resolution before accepting actions.

Key Parts of a Professional Certificate of Resolutions

A complete certificate follows a predictable structure to prove authority and provide context for the action being authorized.

Resolution Title

A concise title describing the action authorized, such as 'Authorization to Open Bank Accounts' or 'Approval of Asset Sale', to make the document immediately searchable in corporate records.

Entity Details

Full legal name of the company, jurisdiction of formation, and formation document reference so third parties can confirm the entity's identity against public filings.

Recitals

Brief background statements that explain why the corporation is taking the action, referencing board minutes or unanimous written consent when applicable.

Authorization Clause

Clear language granting authority to named individuals or offices, defining any dollar limits, time limits, or conditions on the power to act.

Execution Block

Signature lines for authorized signers, titles, and dates; include space for notary acknowledgment where counterparties require notarization.

Certification Statement

A signed statement by an officer or secretary certifying the resolution's adoption and that it remains in effect, useful for third-party reliance.

Security and Compliance Essentials

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256
Audit Trail: Timestamped signer history
HIPAA: BAA available if required
ESIGN / UETA: Legal e-sign framework
21 CFR Part 11: Compliant options exist
SOC 2 / ISO: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001

Four Steps to Create and Finalize a Resolution

Follow these sequential steps to draft, approve, sign, and distribute a Business Certificate of Resolutions with auditable evidence of authority.

  • 01
    Draft Resolution: Write clear authorization language and include entity details.
  • 02
    Obtain Approval: Record board vote or unanimous written consent as required.
  • 03
    Signature & Notary: Have authorized signers sign; notarize if counterparties require it.
  • 04
    Distribute & File: Provide certified copies to banks and retain originals with minutes.

Digital Workflow Settings for Online Completion

Configure these key workflow options to control authentication, signing order, and retention when completing the certificate electronically.

Field Configuration
Signing Order Sequential or parallel signer order
Authentication Level Email, SMS, or two-factor authentication
Notification Settings Reminders and expiry notifications
Retention Automatic archival duration and export

Where to Send, File, and Who Receives Copies

A resolution must be shared with internal and external stakeholders who rely on proof of corporate authority; route certified copies accordingly.

  • Prepare Document: Finalize language and attach meeting minutes if applicable.
  • Add Signers: Name officers authorized to sign the certificate.
  • Send for Signature: Deliver to signers and obtain signatures, electronic or wet.
  • Distribute Copies: Provide certified copies to banks, counsel, and corporate records.

Digital Signing and Format Requirements

Ensure your signing platform supports required formats and signer authentication to meet third-party requirements.

  • File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
  • Integrations: CRM and cloud storage integrations
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, and advanced options

Choose a platform that preserves an audit trail, supports notarization workflows when needed, and exports standard signed PDFs for recordkeeping and third-party acceptance.

Timing Considerations and Common Deadlines

While internal resolutions typically have no universal filing deadline, observe internal governance and third-party timelines to avoid operational delays.

Board Meeting Date:

Record the date of approval to anchor the corporate action.

Effective Date:

Use the effective date to determine when authority begins.

Bank Submission:

Submit certified copies to banks as requested, often at account opening.

Record Retention:

File with corporate minutes immediately after execution.

Amendment Requests:

Process and record amendments promptly to reflect current authority.

Key Processing Milestones

Track these sequential milestones from drafting to final storage to ensure complete, auditable records are created and distributed.

01

Draft Approval

Circulate proposed language for review by counsel and officers.

02

Board Vote

Conduct meeting or obtain unanimous written consent as required.

03

Execution

Authorized signers sign and notarize if necessary.

04

Filing & Distribution

Attach to minutes and distribute certified copies.

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using an informal or abbreviated company name that does not match public formation records, causing banks to reject the certificate.
  • Failing to document quorum or the adopting vote, which can leave the resolution subject to challenge in disputes.
  • Omitting precise authorization limits or timeframes, producing ambiguity about the scope of delegated authority.
  • Not updating or reissuing certificates after officer changes, creating confusion for counterparties relying on stale authorization.

Risks from an Incorrect or Incomplete Certificate

Invalid Authorization: Third parties may refuse transactions.
Contract Risk: Agreements could be unenforceable.
Bank Rejection: Financial institutions may decline accounts.
Liability Exposure: Officers could face personal liability.
Regulatory Scrutiny: Auditors may question corporate controls.
Record Gaps: Missing minutes weaken legal defenses.

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Signing and Distributing Resolutions

Comparison of typical vendor attributes relevant when electronically signing and distributing corporate resolutions; signNow is listed first per platform data.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial Yes, 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes (BAA available) Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

How Organizations Use a Business Certificate of Resolutions

Real organizations standardize resolution templates to speed approvals and provide consistent proof of authority to banks and vendors.

Martin Properties — Founder

Martin Properties used a standardized Business Certificate of Resolutions to authorize property closings and delegate signing authority to managing agents.

  • Enabled remote execution and compliance.
  • "I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security. Whether on mobile or working offline, I can get forms back to their necessary parties efficiently."

Fertility Centers of Illinois — Founder

Fertility Centers centralised approvals using a template resolution to manage vendor contracts and corporate signatories.

  • Improved turnaround and auditability.
  • "The airSlate SignNow team has been exceptional, responsive, the API has been great, and we're extremely happy that we chose airSlate SignNow as a company."

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Follow these pragmatic practices to reduce rework, ensure third-party acceptance, and maintain corporate governance compliance.

Match Official Names
Always use the exact legal entity name from the formation documents and state records; mismatches often cause banks and registries to reject certificates and delay transactions.
Record Voting Details
Include meeting date, motion wording, vote tally, and reference to minutes or unanimous written consent to provide a complete governance trail for auditors or litigators.
Include Specimen Signatures
Attach specimen signature cards for delegated signers when dealing with banks or financial institutions to enable immediate verification and reduce onboarding friction.
Use Controlled Templates
Maintain a centralized, reviewed template for resolutions to ensure consistent language, avoid ambiguity, and speed preparation across departments.

Export, Storage, and File Formats

Use consistent formats and secure storage to support long-term access and third-party acceptance of signed certificates.

PDF Export

Export executed certificates as PDF/A or standard PDF to preserve layout and signature appearance for archival and third-party requests.

Word Templates

Keep editable DOCX templates for internal drafting, then convert to PDF for signature and distribution to prevent accidental edits after signing.

Cloud Storage

Store certified copies in secure cloud repositories with access controls and versioning to preserve the audit trail and simplify retrieval.

Audit Record

Maintain a signed audit trail with signer identity, timestamps, IP addresses, and notarization evidence where applicable.

FAQs and Troubleshooting for Common Questions

Answers to frequent questions about validity, notarization, e-signing, and recordkeeping for Business Certificates of Resolutions.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users