Lost Your Articles of Incorporation? Here’s How to Replace Them
- Natalie Paquette
- Jan 23
- 3 min read
It happens more often than you’d think — somewhere between starting your business and managing the day-to-day, that one key document goes missing. Your Articles of Incorporation are an essential piece of your company’s foundation, and if you’ve misplaced them, don’t panic. Getting a replacement is easier than you might think.
At Launch a Business, we’ve helped tons of entrepreneurs track down official corporate records quickly and stress-free. Here’s exactly what to do next if you’ve lost your Articles of Incorporation.
Step 1: Confirm Where Your Corporation Was Registered
Before you can replace your Articles, you’ll need to know where your corporation was originally incorporated — federally or provincially/territorially.
Ontario: Your documents were filed through the Ontario Business Registry (OBR).
Federal: Your corporation was registered through Corporations Canada.
Another province or territory: Each has its own corporate registry, and the process varies slightly.
If you’re not sure which applies to you, you can do a corporate search first to confirm your registration details. This will tell you exactly where your business was incorporated, along with its registration number and legal status.
Step 2: Request a Copy of Your Articles of Incorporation
Once you know the correct registry, you can request a copy of your Articles of Incorporation.
Here’s what’s typically available:
Copy of Articles of Incorporation: The original document filed when your corporation was first registered. Keep in mind that these never ever change, even if details about your corporation change.
Articles of Amendment, Amalgamation, or Continuance (if applicable): These show any changes made to your corporation since it was created, like if you’ve changed the name or moved it into a different part of Canada.
At Launch a Business, we can handle this for you — no forms, no confusion, no waiting on hold. Just tell us your corporation name or number, and we’ll request the official copy directly from the right government registry.
Step 3: Keep Your Corporate Records Organized
Once you have your replacement, take this as a cue to tidy up your corporate records. Your Articles are part of what’s called your corporate minute book, which should also include:
Certificate of Incorporation
Bylaws and resolutions
Shareholder and director information
Annual return filings
If you don’t have a proper minute book set up yet, we can order one for you, so you can start getting yourself organized and so you don’t run into this issue again.
Step 4: Know When You Might Need Your Articles
Your Articles of Incorporation aren’t just a “one-time” document. You’ll need them for all kinds of things down the road, like:
Opening a business bank account
Applying for business financing or grants
Updating corporate information (like directors or address)
Selling or restructuring your company
Registering into another province or territory
Having your Articles on hand keeps things smooth when these moments come up — and saves you the scramble later.
Step 5: Let Us Handle It for You
If you’ve lost your Articles of Incorporation, don’t stress about tracking them down yourself. Launch a Business makes it simple to order an official copy directly from the government registry — whether your corporation is in Ontario, Federal, or elsewhere in Canada.
Once we get your request, we’ll:
✅ Verify your corporation details
✅ Request the official copy
No red tape. No confusion. Just the official document you need, fast.
Ready to Get Your Articles Back?
You can request your Articles of Incorporation through Launch a Business today — we’ll handle the details so you can get back to running your business.
And if you’re not sure what type of document you need — a Corporate Profile Report, Certificate of Status, or something else — our team’s happy to help point you in the right direction.
Launch a Business — making business filings across Canada easy, clear, and stress-free.
