The North Carolina Articles of Incorporation are legal documents filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State's Office that form a corporation in the state of North Carolina. The Articles of Incorporation establish the basic information about the corporation, including its name, purpose, duration, and the names and addresses of the initial directors and officers. They also set out the number of authorized shares of stock and how the corporation will be managed. There are two types of Articles of Incorporation: the Standard Nonprofit Articles of Incorporation and the Professional Corporation Articles of Incorporation. The Standard Nonprofit Articles of Incorporation are used to form a nonprofit corporation and must include clauses that describe the purpose, duration, and dissolution of the organization. The Professional Corporation Articles of Incorporation are used to form a professional corporation and must include clauses that describe the name, purpose, duration, and management of the organization. Both types of Articles of Incorporation must be properly executed and filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State's Office.