What are incorporators in the context of Articles of Incorporation?

Incorporators are specifically defined as individuals or entities tasked with the formation of a corporation, which aligns with the context of Articles of Incorporation. These incorporators play a crucial role in initiating the process of creating a legal entity that can conduct business in its own name, separate from its owners. They are responsible for signing and filing the Articles of Incorporation with the appropriate state authority, ensuring that the necessary legal provisions are met for the corporation to be officially recognized.

In contrast to other roles within the corporation, such as management or ownership, incorporators do not necessarily have to manage the corporation after its formation nor do they have to hold shares. Their primary responsibility is to establish the corporation and facilitate its compliance with statutory requirements.

Understanding this role is essential for distinguishing between the functions of incorporators and those of other stakeholders like directors or shareholders, who have different responsibilities once the corporation is established. Investors or owners (shareholders), members of the board of directors, and corporate managers assume their positions after the corporation is formed by the incorporators, highlighting the foundational aspect of incorporators in the corporate structure.