(a)  If the secretary of state fails to approve the articles of incorporation, amendment, merger, consolidation or dissolution, or any other document required by this chapter to be approved by the secretary of state before the document is filed in the secretary of state’s office, the secretary of state shall, within ten (10) days after the delivery of the document to him or her, give written notice of his or her disapproval to the domestic or foreign person or corporation delivering the document, specifying the reasons for the disapproval. From the disapproval, or from the revocation of a certificate of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the person or corporation may appeal to the superior court of the county in which the registered office of the corporation is, or is proposed to be, situated by filing with the clerk of the court a petition setting forth a copy of the articles or other document sought to be filed and a copy of the written disapproval by the secretary of state; at which time the matter shall be tried de novo by the court, and the court shall either sustain the action of the secretary of state or direct the secretary of state to take any action that the court deems proper.

Need help reviewing 501c forms?
Have it reviewed by a lawyer, get answers to your questions and move forward with confidence.
Connect with a lawyer now

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 7-6-99

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Articles of incorporation: means the original or restated articles of incorporation or articles of consolidation and all amendments to it, including articles of merger and special acts of the general assembly creating corporations and/or entities. See Rhode Island General Laws 7-6-2
  • 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.
  • Filing: means delivered to the secretary of state in either paper format or electronic transmission through a medium provided and authorized by the secretary of state. See Rhode Island General Laws 7-6-2
  • Foreign corporation: means a nonprofit corporation organized under laws other than the laws of this state. See Rhode Island General Laws 7-6-2
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  If the secretary of state revokes the certificate of authority to conduct affairs in this state of any foreign corporation, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the foreign corporation may similarly appeal to the superior court of the county where the registered office of the corporation in this state is situated, by filing with the clerk of the court a petition setting forth a copy of its certificate of authority to conduct affairs in this state and a copy of the notice of revocation given by the secretary of state; at which time the matter shall be tried de novo by the court, and the court shall either sustain the action of the secretary of state or direct the secretary of state to take any action that the court deems proper.

(c)  Appeals from all final orders and judgments entered by the superior court under this section in review of any ruling or decision of the secretary of state may be taken as in other civil actions.

History of Section.
P.L. 1984, ch. 380, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 444, § 1.