How to Fill Article 2 or Article 3 of a State LLC Form

When forming an LLC, you, as business owners, must submit Articles of Organization to the Secretary of State. These forms are divided into numbered sections, which are referred to as “articles”. Are Articles 2 and 3 confusing you because their purpose is not the same nationwide and varies depending on the state?

Here, in this article, we make things easy for you. If you are confused and do not understand how to fill out Article 2 or Article 3 of a state LLC form, this article explains it for you.

What Article 2 and Article 3 Are Used For in an LLC Filing

Articles 2 and 3 are required sections within a state’s LLC Articles of Organization that collect information about the LLC legally. It depends on your state that these articles may define the LLC’s purpose, duration, management structure, or authority to act. Understand that the information you entered becomes part of the public record and is reviewed during state initial approval and future compliance checks.

Why Filers Commonly Make Mistakes in Article 2 and Article 3

Typically, filing errors occur because applicants assume that Articles 2 and 3 require identical details in every state. Take note that these sections may request different types of information depending on how your state structures its formation document. You must rely on your own state because relying on examples from another state or adding unnecessary explanations results in rejected filings or requests for amendments.

How to Fill Article 2 or Article 3 of a State LLC Form

Now, completing Article 2 or Article 3 correctly requires you to follow the state’s instructions in sequence rather than relying on assumptions. Because states assign different roles to these sections, you should confirm the purpose of the article first and then complete only what the form requests.

Step 1: Identify What Article 2 or Article 3 Requests in Your State

Before you enter any information, review your state’s official Article of Organization instructions first to confirm whether the article requires a checkbox, dropdown selection, or a short text entry. The instructions will also explain whether the response affects your LLC’s duration, authority, or management structure.

How Article 2 Is Commonly Used

In many states, Article 2 is used to describe the LLC’s business purpose or duration. Some states allow a broad statement such as “any lawful purpose”, while others require a specific description or selection from predefined options. Certain states also use Article 2 to indicate whether the LLC will exist or has a fixed duration.

How Article 3 Is Commonly Used

Article 3 often addresses management structure, such as whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed. In some states, this article may instead request organizer information or authority disclosures. The selection made here determines who is legally authorized to act on behalf of the LLC.

Step 2: Complete the Article Using the State’s Required Format

Once you confirm what the article requests, complete the section using only the fields and options provided on the form. Avoid adding explanation or custom language unless the form explicitly allows free-text entries, and match the wording or format shown in the instructions as closely as possible.

Step 3: Review Article 2 and Article 3 Before Submission

Before you submit the filing, review Article 2 and Article 3 first to confirm that the entries align with the LLC’s intended structure and match the information provided in other sections of the form. A final review helps prevent processing delays and reduces the need for corrective amendments.

These are general steps, though. It must be noted that each state can have different types of questions, which might be similar but not the same. Hence, read the form carefully before filling it out.

Final Words

Filling out Article 2 or 3 of a state LLC form requires careful attention to state-specific instructions rather than assumptions based on other filings. Because these sections define legally binding details and are reviewed during approval, inaccurate or copied language can delay information. By confirming what each article requests, completing only the required fields, and reviewing entries before submission, filers can complete their LLC formation accurately and efficiently.