How to Move a Corporation to Nevada

Q: I currently have a California corporation and would like help with dissolving it and registering in Nevada, can you do that?

Thank you to our customer for that great question! Northwest can certainly help you dissolve your current company and form a new corporation in Nevada. Alternatively, we can help you move your existing corporation to the Silver State through a process called domestication, which requires filing Nevada registration paperwork and providing documentation from your corporation’s previous state. Keep reading, and we’ll show you how it’s done.

What is domestication?

Domestication is the state-assisted process of moving a corporation (or similar businesses like an LLC), to a new state, district or territory. Domestication laws don’t exist in every state, and in those places you’ll either have to register your corporation as a foreign entity elsewhere, or dissolve your business and reform it from square one in your new state, which can be a costly and time-consuming process. Domestication, by contrast, tends to be comparatively swift and less expensive.

Why does my corporation need to be domesticated?

Domestication is not the only choice available to corporations moving to a new state. You can dissolve your corporation in the state it formed, and restart it by forming a new corporation in Nevada. Alternatively, you could remain registered in your previous state and Register a Foreign Corporation in Nevada. However, if your company will only conduct business out of Nevada, domestication may be your best option.

Learn more about domestication on our How to Move Your Business to Another State page.

How do I domesticate my corporation in Nevada?

In order to make Nevada your corporation’s new home state, you’ll have to provide the following documents:

• Nevada Articles of Domestication
• Nevada Articles of Incorporation
• A Certificate of Good Standing (or equivalent document) from your previous state
• A certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation (or equivalent document) from your previous state

Note that your Certificate of Good Standing must be issued by your former state within the 90 days of your filing in Nevada. This document (also known as a Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Status) proves your corporation is current with all state fees and annual reports.

How do I file my Nevada domestication documents?

You can file online, or deliver paper documents in person or by mail.

Online: Silverflume

(Nevada also provides a guide to filing domestication through Silverflume.)

In Person or By Mail:
Secretary of State
New Filings Division
202 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701-4201

For expedited filings only:
Secretary of State – Las Vegas
North Las Vegas City Hall
2250 North Las Vegas Blvd, 4th Floor
North Las Vegas, NV 89030

How much does it cost to domesticate my corporation in Nevada?

The filing fee for NV’s articles of domestication is $350. You may also pay for 24-hour expedite service ($125), 2-hour expedite service ($500), or 1-hour expedite service ($1,000).

What if my home state does not recognize domestication?

You can only domesticate your corporation in Nevada if your current state recognizes domestication as a legal process. What’s more, your state may not recognized your domestication if your corporation is not in good standing due to delinquent annual report filings or other issues.

If you have further questions about the domestication process or how to proceed with your business, contact a business attorney or adviser.