California Secretary of State Business Search — Guidance #01

Published

California SOS · v2026-01-01 · Guidance · effective 5/31/2026

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Section 1. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.
Section 2. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.
Section 3. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.
Section 4. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.
Section 5. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.
Section 6. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.
Section 7. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.
Section 8. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.
Section 9. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.
Section 10. California Secretary of State Business Search establishes obligations relating to registry, CA, corporate filings. Authorized recipients shall maintain a current copy of this guidance and reconcile against the underlying registry on the prescribed cadence. Where ambiguity exists between this document and the governing authority cited at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business, the governing authority controls. Beneficial ownership, identity-proofing, and screening procedures referenced herein are operative as of the effective date noted in the header.