(a) Anyone may apply to the Secretary of State to furnish a certificate of existence for a domestic corporation or a certificate of authorization for a foreign corporation.

(b) A certificate of existence or authorization sets forth:

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 33-1-280

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.

(1) the domestic corporation’s corporate name or the foreign corporation’s corporate name used in this State;

(2) that (i) the domestic corporation is duly incorporated under the law of this State, the date of its incorporation, and the period of its duration if less than perpetual; or (ii) the foreign corporation is authorized to transact business in this State;

(3) that all fees, taxes, and penalties owed to the Secretary of State have been paid;

(4) that the Secretary of State has not mailed notice to the corporation pursuant to either § 33-14-210 or 33-15-310 that the corporation is subject to being dissolved or its authority revoked;

(5) that articles of dissolution have not been filed; and

(6) other facts of record in the office of the Secretary of State that may be requested by the applicant.

(c) Subject to any qualification stated in the certificate, a certificate of existence or authorization issued by the Secretary of State may be relied upon as conclusive evidence that the domestic or foreign corporation is in existence or is authorized to transact business in this State.