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Restated Certificate of Incorporation

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Restated Certificate of Incorporation

DELAWARE

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF

INCORPORATION

OF

, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the General Corporate Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCLSD"),

DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: That the name of this corporation is and that this corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the GCLSD on , .

SECOND: That the Board of Directors duly adopted resolutions proposing to amend and restate the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation, declaring the amendment and restatement to be in the best interests of this corporation and its stockholders, and authorizing the appropriate officers of this corporation to solicit the consent of the stockholders therefor, which resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and restatement is as follows:

RESOLVED, that the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

The name of this corporation is .

ARTICLE II

The address of the registered office of this corporation in the State of Delaware is , in the City of , County of . The name of its registered agent at such address is .

ARTICLE III

The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the GCLSD of Delaware.

ARTICLE IV

A. Classes of Stock.

This corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, "Common Stock" and "Preferred Stock." The total number of shares that this corporation is authorized to issue is () shares. () shares shall be Common Stock and () shares shall be Preferred Stock, each with a par value of $ per share.

B. Rights, Preferences and Restrictions of Preferred Stock.

The Preferred Stock authorized by this Restated Certificate of Incorporation may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions granted to and imposed on the Series A Preferred Stock, which series shall consist of shares (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), are as set forth herein below.

1. Dividends.

(a) Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock that may from time to time come into existence, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends ... at the rate of $ per share per annum for the Series A Preferred Stock ...

2. Liquidation Preference and Participation.

(a) ... an amount per share equal to the sum of (i) $ for each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock ... and (ii) an amount equal to % of the Original Series A Issue Price ...

3. Redemption.

(a) ... at any time after , but within ninety (90) days after ... redeem in () annual installments ... by paying in cash therefor a sum per share equal to $ per share ...

4. Conversion.

(b) Automatic Conversion. ... the public offering price of which was not less than $ per share ... and $ in the aggregate ...

(d)(ii)(B) ... not exceed in the aggregate

(h)(i) ... Section of the Investors' Rights Agreement, dated , by and among this corporation and certain investors ...

5. Voting Rights.

(b) Voting for the Election of Directors. ... the holders of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect () directors ... The holders of outstanding Common Stock shall be entitled to elect () directors ...

6. Certain Protective Provisions.

Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock that may from time to time come into existence, so long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, this corporation shall not without first obtaining the approval of the holders ...

(a) sell, convey, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property or business ...

(b) alter or change the rights, preferences or privileges of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock ...

(c) increase or decrease the total number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock;

(d) authorize or issue any other equity security ...

(e) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any share or shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock;

(f) amend this corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws; or

(g) change the authorized number of directors of this corporation.

C. Common Stock.

The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to and imposed on the Common Stock are as set forth below.

ARTICLE V

Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind any or all of the Bylaws of this corporation.

ARTICLE VI

The number of directors of this corporation shall be fixed from time to time by a bylaw or amendment thereof duly adopted by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders.

ARTICLE VII

Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of this corporation shall so provide.

ARTICLE VIII

Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of this corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of this corporation.

ARTICLE IX

A director of this corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the GCLSD as it now exists or as it may hereafter be amended, not be personally liable ... except for liability ...

ARTICLE X

This corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

ARTICLE XI

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) agents of this corporation ...

* * *

THIRD: The foregoing amendment and restatement was approved by the holders of the requisite number of shares of said corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the GCLSD.

FOURTH: That said amendment and restatement was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 and 245 of the GCLSD.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by the President and the Secretary of this corporation on this day of , .

, President

, Secretary

Enter text✕

What a Restated Certificate of Incorporation Is and when it's used

A Restated Certificate of Incorporation consolidates an entity's original certificate and all subsequent amendments into a single, updated document filed with the state. Corporations use a restatement to simplify their public charter language after multiple amendments, to incorporate a series of prior changes, or to reflect a comprehensive governance update. The restated certificate replaces earlier filings for clarity, but it does not itself change substantive rights unless the restatement includes new amendments adopted under the corporation's governing law and charter provisions.

Why preparing a clear Restated Certificate of Incorporation matters

A professionally prepared restatement reduces ambiguity, consolidates amendments for stakeholders, and streamlines public records. It can improve corporate governance clarity for directors, shareholders, regulators, and counterparties while reducing the risk of conflicting provisions.

Why preparing a clear Restated Certificate of Incorporation matters

Who typically prepares and reviews a restated certificate

Confirm each stakeholder's role early to ensure approvals and execution occur in the correct order and under applicable state corporate law.

  • Corporate Secretary: Prepares draft text, tracks prior amendments, and coordinates adoption and filing with the Secretary of State.
  • Board and Shareholders: Approve the restatement when required by the corporate code and the charter's amendment provisions.
  • Outside Counsel: Reviews statutory compliance, resolves conflicts among prior amendments, and confirms required approvals and shareholder notice.

Primary signatories and their roles

Corporate Officer

President or Secretary typically executes the restated certificate on behalf of the corporation and attests that corporate approvals were obtained. Confirm the charter and state statute for who may sign and whether an officer affidavit is required.

Authorized Attorney

Outside counsel frequently signs or certifies board resolutions and provides an opinion on corporate power and approval. Counsel involvement is common when restatements incorporate complex amendments or tax and securities consequences.

Core parts to include in a professional restatement

A restated certificate should present a clean, legally accurate charter that mirrors the corporation's current authorized structure and governance terms.

Caption

State filing name and current charter title; must match Secretary of State records and include the corporate identification number where available.

Introductory Statement

Language stating that the certificate restates and integrates the original certificate and all prior amendments to date.

Article-by-Article Text

Full, sequential text of each article (e.g., name, purpose, authorized stock, voting structure) reflecting current provisions without redline.

Amendment History

A brief recital listing prior amendment dates and instrument references so reviewers can trace changes.

Execution Block

Signature lines for officers, attestation language, and corporate seal or certification per state practice.

Filing Instructions

A cover sheet or transmittal with required fees, contact information, and any requested effective date language.

Step-by-step: preparing and filing a restated certificate

Follow this sequence to prepare, adopt, and file a Restated Certificate of Incorporation with minimal processing friction.

  • 01
    Draft: Integrate original charter and all amendments into unified text.
  • 02
    Review: Obtain counsel review for conflicts or unintended changes.
  • 03
    Adopt: Secure board and shareholder approvals required under state law.
  • 04
    File: Submit the restated certificate and fee to the Secretary of State.

How to set up a digital workflow for the restatement

Configure a secure routing workflow to collect approvals, signatures, and transmittal materials before filing with the state.

Field Configuration
Signers Officer, Corporate Secretary, Outside Counsel
Authentication Email link plus optional SMS code or ID verification
Attachments Board minutes, shareholder consent, prior amendment copies
Retention Store signed PDF plus audit log in corporate records system

Typical digital signing flow for restated certificates

A streamlined eSignature workflow reduces turnaround by routing the document to each required signatory in order.

  • Upload: Sender uploads the restated certificate PDF.
  • Place Fields: Add signature, date, and initial fields for each signer.
  • Authenticate: Choose signer authentication level (email, SMS, KBA).
  • Archive: Save signed copy with audit trail and attachments.

Technical considerations for eSigning and eFiling

Ensure your platform retains a tamper-evident audit trail and allows export of signed records in formats accepted by the Secretary of State.

  • File formats: PDF and Word DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Connect to Google Workspace, NetSuite, or Box
  • Security: TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 encryption

Typical timing and processing expectations

Timing varies by state and by whether expedites are requested; plan for internal review, approvals, and state processing when scheduling filings.

Internal drafting:

Allow 3–14 business days for drafting and legal review depending on complexity.

Approvals:

Board and shareholder approvals may require notice periods under the corporate bylaws or state statute.

State processing:

Processing can range from same-day (expedite) to several weeks for standard filings, depending on the Secretary of State.

Effective date:

Often immediate on filing unless a delayed effective date is requested in the filing.

Record distribution:

Distribute executed copies to directors, shareholders, and legal counsel within 7–14 days.

Key milestones from draft to filed restatement

Track these numbered milestones to monitor progress and to coordinate approvals and filing logistics.

01

Draft Completed

Restated certificate finalized and circulated to counsel.

02

Corporate Approvals

Board resolution and shareholder consent obtained as required.

03

Execution

Officers sign and date the executed restatement.

04

File and Confirm

Submit to Secretary of State and obtain filing confirmation.

Common pitfalls when preparing a restated certificate

  • Failing to incorporate all prior amendments leads to inconsistencies between the restated certificate and corporate practice, creating enforceability uncertainty.
  • Using abbreviated or inconsistent corporate names can cause the filing to be rejected by the Secretary of State and delay acceptance.
  • Omitting the required shareholder or board approval language can invalidate the restatement under state corporate statutes and invite administrative rejection.
  • Submitting an incorrect filing fee or wrong form type commonly results in rejection and additional processing time and expense.

Security and compliance essentials for electronic restatements

Encryption: AES-256 at rest
Transport: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit
Audit Trail: IP, timestamp, action log
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001
eSign Laws: ESIGN and UETA compliant
HIPAA: BAA available where required

Consequences of incorrect or incomplete filings

Filing Rejection: Possible rejection and resubmission
Corporate Invalidity: Potential challenge to charter provisions
Shareholder Disputes: Risk of litigation over approval sufficiency
Administrative Fines: State penalties or fees for late corrections
Recordkeeping Gaps: Regulatory noncompliance exposure
Delays: Business disruption from slow processing

How a Restated Certificate differs from related filings

This table contrasts a restated certificate with common alternatives so you can choose the appropriate filing approach.

Document Restated Certificate Certificate of Amendment
Purpose consolidates all provisions changes specific provisions
Volume full charter text short amendment text
Use Case clarify overall charter update specific clause
Filing Impact replaces prior text for clarity supplements prior text

eSignature vendor comparison for signing and routing corporate restatements

Compare common vendor criteria for collecting signatures and managing the audit trail. signNow appears first as the vendor reference for cost and capability 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 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Real-world examples of restatement use

These condensed customer examples show how organizations used restatements to consolidate amendments and simplify corporate records.

Martin Properties

Local property manager consolidated multiple stock class changes into one restatement to simplify title records

  • Used digital signing to collect officer and shareholder approvals quickly
  • The consolidated charter reduced future title review friction and centralized the amendment history for lenders and agents.

BIS

Mid-size services firm restated its certificate to reflect a new governance structure adopted after a merger

  • Coordinated counsel review and shareholder consent remotely
  • The restatement provided a single authoritative charter for counterparties and simplified subsequent contract reviews and bank onboarding.

Frequently asked questions about restated certificates

Answers to common questions about adoption, execution, filing, and recordkeeping for Restated Certificates of Incorporation.


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