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Application for Amended Certificate

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Application for Certificate of Authority

OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE
CORPORATIONS DIVISION
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE, Suite 313 West Tower, Atlanta, Georgia 30334
(404) 656-2817 | sos.georgia.gov/corporations

IMPORTANT: Please provide the entity’s primary email address when completing this form.

Primary Email Address:

NOTICE TO APPLICANT: PRINT PLAINLY OR TYPE REMAINDER OF THIS FORM

Foreign Profit or Nonprofit Corporation

1. Name of Corporation: Name Reservation Number (Optional):

Date business commenced (or proposed to commence) in Georgia:

(Profit Corporations: If the date provided here is more than 30 days prior to the effective date of this application, a $500 penalty must be paid. Penalty is statutory and cannot be waived by Secretary of State. Nonprofit Corporations: There is no late filing penalty.)

2. Name of Filing Person:

Address: City: State: Zip Code:

Filer’s Email Address: Telephone Number:

3. Principal Office Mailing Address: City: State: Zip Code:

4. Name of Registered Agent in Georgia: Registered Agent’s Email Address:

Registered Office Street Address in Georgia:

City: County: State: Zip Code:

5. Corporation’s Name in State or Country of Incorporation:

Jurisdiction (Home State or Country): Date of Incorporation in Home Jurisdiction:

Check ONE:

6. Officer / CEO: Address: City: State: Zip Code:

Officer / CFO: Address: City: State: Zip Code:

Officer / Secretary: Address: City: State: Zip Code:

7. Effective Date:

A delayed effective date must be within 90 days of the filing date.

8. NOTICE: Mail the following items to the Secretary of State at the above address.

(1) This application;
(2) An ORIGINAL certificate of existence or good standing, not more than 90 days old, certified by the home state or country;
(3) Filing fee of $225.00 payable to “Secretary of State.” Filing fees are non-refundable;
(4) If applicable, a copy of the resolution of the board of directors, certified by corporation’s secretary, adopting a fictitious or trade name.

Signature of Authorized Person

Date

Print name

Title

Foreign Professional Corporation

1. Name of Professional Corporation: Name Reservation Number (Optional):

Date business commenced (or proposed to commence) in Georgia:

If the date provided here is more than 30 days prior the effective date of this application, a $500 penalty must be paid. Penalty is statutory and cannot be waived by Secretary of State.

2. Name of Filing Person:

Address: City: State: Zip Code:

Filer’s Email Address: Telephone Number:

3. Principal Office Mailing Address: City: State: Zip Code:

4. Name of Registered Agent in Georgia: Registered Agent’s Email Address:

Registered Office Street Address in Georgia:

City: County: State: Zip Code:

5. Professional Corporation’s Name in State or Country of Incorporation:

Jurisdiction (Home State or Country): Date of Incorporation in Home Jurisdiction:

6. The purpose of the above-named professional corporation is to practice the profession of:

The corporation certifies that it is authorized to pursue such stated purpose in this state and in its state or country of incorporation.

7. Officer / CEO: Address: City: State: Zip Code:

Officer / CFO: Address: City: State: Zip Code:

Officer / Secretary: Address: City: State: Zip Code:

8. Effective Date:

A delayed effective date must be within 90 days of the filing date.

9. NOTICE: Mail the following items to the Secretary of State at the above address.

(1) This application;
(2) An ORIGINAL certificate of existence or good standing, not more than 90 days old, certified by the home state or country;
(3) Filing fee of $225.00 payable to “Secretary of State.” Filing fees are non-refundable;
(4) If applicable, a copy of the resolution of the board of directors, certified by corporation’s secretary, adopting a fictitious or trade name.

Signature of Authorized Person

Date

Print name

Title

Foreign Limited Liability Company

1. Name of Limited Liability Company: Name Reservation Number (Optional):

Date business commenced (or proposed) in Georgia:

If date provided here is more than 30 days prior to the effective date of this application, a $500 penalty plus fees must be paid. Penalty is statutory and cannot be waived by Secretary of State.

2. Name of Filing Person:

Address: City: State: Zip Code:

3. Name of Limited Liability Company in State or Country of Formation:

Jurisdiction (Home State or Country): Date of Formation in Home State or Country: Period of Duration:

4. Address of Principal Place of Business: City: State: Zip Code:

5. Name of Registered Agent in Georgia: Registered Agent’s Email Address:

Registered Office Street Address in Georgia:

City: County: State: Zip Code:

6. Manager’s Name & Address: Address: City: State: Zip Code:

7. Address Where Limited Liability Company’s Records Are Maintained: City: State: Zip Code:

8. Effective Date:

A delayed effective date must be within 90 days of the filing date.

9. NOTICE: Mail the following items to the Secretary of State at the above address.

(1) This application;
(2) The filing fee of $225.00 payable to “Secretary of State.” Filing fees are non-refundable.

This application is signed by a person duly authorized to sign such instruments by the laws of the jurisdiction under which the foreign limited liability company is organized. The foreign limited liability company undertakes to keep its records at the address shown in #7 above until its registration in Georgia is canceled or withdrawn. The foreign limited liability company, in accordance with Title 14 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, appoints the Secretary of State as agent for service of process if no agent has been appointed in Georgia or, if appointed, the agent’s authority has been revoked or the agent cannot be found or served by the exercise of reasonable diligence.

Signature of Authorized Person

Date

Print Name

Title

Enter text✕

What the Application for Amended Certificate Is

The Application for Amended Certificate is the formal state filing used to change information previously recorded for a business entity’s formation document, such as a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or an LLC’s articles of organization. Typical amendments include name changes, registered agent updates, changes to authorized shares or membership structure, or corrections to previously filed data. The amended certificate is submitted to the state filing office (usually the Secretary of State) and becomes the public record that supersedes the prior filing for the amended fields.

Who completes this application and why

The Application for Amended Certificate is completed by authorized officers, managers, or agents acting on behalf of the entity to record formal changes with the state.

  • Corporate secretaries and in-house counsel handling entity recordkeeping and compliance
  • Registered agents or formation services submitting filings for multiple clients
  • Small business owners and LLC managers updating public filing details after approved actions

Depending on corporate governance, signatures or board/shareholder approvals may be required before submitting the amendment to the Secretary of State.

Representative signers and submitters

Corporate Secretary

A corporate secretary or corporate counsel typically prepares and certifies an amendment after board and, if required, shareholder approval. They confirm the amendment language, attach resolutions or meeting minutes, and handle delivery to the Secretary of State along with any required fee.

LLC Manager / Owner

An LLC manager or owner files amendments to reflect membership, manager changes, or address updates. They ensure the filing aligns with the operating agreement and state statutes, and that any member approvals are documented before submission.

Primary components that belong in a professional amended-certificate application

A well-prepared Application for Amended Certificate contains clear identification of the entity, specific amendment text, required authorizing documentation, signer information, and payment and filing instructions for the state office.

Entity Details

Exact legal name and current state file number to locate the original record and ensure the amendment attaches to the correct entity.

Amendment Text

Concise, itemized description of the precise changes being made (for example, strike-through and replacement language or numbered amendment clauses).

Effective Date

If different from filing date, specify the effective date in MM/DD/YYYY format or reference statutory allowance for delayed effectiveness.

Authorizing Action

Reference to the board resolution, manager or member vote, or meeting minutes that authorize the amendment, including dates and approval thresholds.

Signature Block

Name, title, printed name, and signature of an authorized officer or manager, and date of signature; corporate capacity must be clear.

Filing Instructions

Designated filing state, required attachments, payment method, and any expedited processing options offered by the Secretary of State.

Step-by-step: fill and file an amendment

Follow these core steps in sequence to prepare, approve, sign, and submit an Application for Amended Certificate to the appropriate state office.

  • 01
    Prepare amendment: Draft precise change language and gather supporting resolutions or consents.
  • 02
    Approve internally: Obtain required board, manager, or member approvals per governing documents and state law.
  • 03
    Sign and date: Have authorized officer or manager sign in their official capacity with a date.
  • 04
    File with state: Submit to the Secretary of State with correct fee and required attachments.

Where the amendment goes and how it’s processed

The filing route and processing depend on the entity type and the state. Use the Secretary of State office for the state of formation as the destination.

  • Prepare package: Assemble the completed form, authorizing documentation, and payment.
  • Choose submission: Select online eFile, mail, or in-person delivery per state options.
  • State review: Secretary of State reviews for completeness and statutory compliance.
  • Return filing proof: State issues stamped filed copy or confirmation number upon acceptance.

Configure an online workflow for amendments

Set up a digital workflow that matches your approval path and e-filing method to reduce errors and streamline submissions.

Field Configuration
Upload Document Accept PDF/DOCX and verify formatting before tagging signature fields.
Filing State Create conditional logic to require state-specific attachments and fees.
Signer Roles Assign roles such as Authorized Officer, Secretary, or Registered Agent.
Authentication Require email/SMS or stronger authentication for high-assurance filings.

Digital options and platform requirements

Use an e-signature and document workflow platform that supports PDF, DOCX, conditional fields, and secure signer authentication.

  • Core formats: PDF and Word DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Connects to Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Compliance: Supports ESIGN, UETA, and HIPAA (BAA available)

Confirm the platform can produce an audit trail, store signed PDFs in required retention format, and support any notarization or RON process your state requires.

Timing and processing expectations

Plan filing after the internal approval timeline; state processing times and any effective-date options determine when the amendment becomes public.

Internal approval timing:

Obtain board/member approvals before filing

Filing to effective date:

Many states permit immediate effect on acceptance

State processing time:

Varies widely; check Secretary of State timelines

Expedited options:

Available for additional state fee where offered

Public record update:

State posts amended certificate upon acceptance

Common consequences of incorrect or late amendments

Filing Rejection: Form rejected for incomplete fields
Late Fees: State may assess penalties or interest
Loss of Protections: Corporate formalities risk if records not updated
Tax Implications: Incorrect reporting to IRS or state revenue
Shareholder Disputes: Unapproved changes may prompt litigation
Legal Costs: Attorney fees to correct or defend filings

Required information to include on the application

Entity Name: Full legal entity name
State File Number: Secretary of State number
Amendment Details: Precise text of change
Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY format
Authorized Signatures: Name, title, date
Attachments: Resolutions or consents

Real-world examples of amended-certificate use

These brief cases show why timely, accurate amended filings matter in common business scenarios.

Tim Martin — Martin Properties

A property manager updated entity name after rebranding to reflect a new portfolio identity.

  • The amendment followed a board vote.
  • Tim noted that having certified minutes and clear amendment language allowed the county recorder and banking partners to update records without further requests, reducing administrative follow-up and avoiding title mismatch issues.

John Butler — Fertility Centers of Illinois

A healthcare practice adjusted registered agent and principal office after a leadership change.

  • The amendment included supporting resolutions.
  • John reported that including the board minutes and a notarized signature page with the amendment prevented repeated state office inquiries and accelerated issuance of the filed stamped certificate.

Practical tips to ensure an accepted filing

Follow these best practices to reduce rejections, avoid delays, and preserve legal protections when amending formation records.

Confirm exact entity identifiers
Verify the Secretary of State file number and legal name against the online business entity search to ensure the amendment attaches to the correct record and avoids administrative rejection.
Document authorizing approvals
Attach certified board minutes or member consents showing the date and vote counts; many states expect proof of proper corporate action before accepting an amendment.
Use precise amendment language
State the change as a clear substitution or addition (for example, 'Article II, Section 1 is amended to read: ...') to avoid interpretive questions during review.
Validate signature authority
Confirm signers have authority under bylaws or operating agreement; include titles and dates and notarize when state guidance or internal governance requires it.

How this amendment compares to similar corporate filings

Compare the Application for Amended Certificate with related filings to choose the correct form and avoid misfiling.

Criteria Certificate of Amendment Restatement of Articles
Primary purpose specific change only consolidates and replaces all articles
Required approval board/shareholder vote board/shareholder vote (may be same)
Filing effect alters particular provisions replaces entire governing document
When to use minor or single issue broad reorganization or cleanup

eSignature platform pricing and feature snapshot for filing workflows

Common eSignature providers and core plan-level differences that affect amendment workflows and high-volume filings.

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 vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Frequently asked questions about amendments

Answers to common questions about preparing, signing, and filing an Application for Amended Certificate.


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