District of Columbia C Corporation Formation Attorneys & Lawyers

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Seth W.

Seth Wiener

1226 reviews
As an experienced trial lawyer and litigator, Seth Wiener has resolved numerous federal and state litigations. His cases have included everything from family law to bankruptcy to fraud and more. Before Seth formed his own firm, the Law Office of Seth W. Wiener, he worked for several prominent law offices where he gained a great deal of experience.
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Steven S.

Steven Stark

583 reviews
For over 30 years, Steven Stark has offered counsel to non-profit organizations and private companies. He has a passion for helping small businesses in particular since he himself started several businesses of his own in New York and Florida. He understands the importance of small businesses having a reliable attorney to advise them about legal matters from their inception.
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Scott S.

Scott Stram

406 reviews
As a member of both the New York and New Jersey Bars, Scott Stram is an accomplished lawyer with experience in a range of legal and business areas. This includes corporate law, data security, compliance, real estate, and intellectual property. Before founding Stram Law, Scott was a compliance officer for a company that performed property audits, a director of a security consulting practice, and an operations officer for Viacom and CBS.
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Jake S.

Jake Siciliano

275 reviews
Jake graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law where he focused on international trademark and corporate law. As of 2022, he has obtained his L.L.M. in Financial Compli... read more
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Alisha B.

Alisha Bond

238 reviews
-Received a BS in Communications in 2005, JD from Mississippi College School of Law in 2009, and MBA from University of Maryland in 2016. -Results driven and experienced a... read more
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Richard G.

Richard Gora

200 reviews
Looking for an attorney with experience? Richard Gora is the exact attorney you want. Having defended over 100 cases both in state and federal courts and working with clients from around the globe, Richard has an array of different experiences. His services are wide-ranging and include business litigation, securities litigations, employment litigation, and business counsel. Prior to founding Gora LLC, he worked for Finn, Dixon & Herling LLP for eight years.
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Michael W.

Michael Wieser

164 reviews
I am dedicated to working with startup entrepreneurs and early stage growth companies to provide legal stability and scalability for growing enterprises. What sets me apart... read more
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Brig R.

Brig Ricks

160 reviews
I am a senior executive and strategic legal adviser with 19 years of experience providing legal services in international environments. I am a general counsel who can advis... read more
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Grant M.

Grant Maynard

128 reviews
Grant represents high-growth companies in all aspects of formation, financing, and intellectual property issues. He has previously done general corporate, intellectual, and real estate work at Nebraska's oldest law firm before transitioning to a more virtual lifestyle. As an entrepreneur himself, he understands the need to balance legal and business interests.
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Kenneth G.

Kenneth Gray

6 reviews
Kenneth Gray, Jr. works as a managing partner at Alliance Law Firm International PLLC. He works specifically in estate planning, tax matters, venture capital journeys, and natural resources. His clients include both small and medium sized companies. He has over 10 years of experience to bring to the table and previously held a position in a private equity company, where he learned a lot of finance and uses that knowledge to help his clients.
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Why use UpCounsel to form your C Corporation in District of Columbia?

Confused by complicated questionnaires and government forms? Want to get your questions answered by a real attorney? UpCounsel provides personalized legal services with experienced attorneys to help form your District of Columbia C Corp the right way.
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Why use UpCounsel to form an C Corporation in District of Columbia

Starting an C Corporation in District of Columbia with a business startup attorney on UpCounsel is easy, informative, and cost-effective. In just three simple steps, our C Corporation attorneys will help you protect your business and personal assets, and help you organize your business for state and federal compliance for an C Corporation.

When forming an C Corporation in District of Columbia with UpCounsel, the attorney you choose to help you will conduct a business name search for your District of Columbia corporation and assist you in preparing your C Corporation Operating Agreement, along with providing other legal services based on your needs. Once your Articles of Incorporation have been prepared and successfully filed with the District of Columbia Corporation Commission, your District of Columbia corporation has been formed and begins its existence as a Corporation entity.

However, a corporation does not register as an C Corporation with the Corporation Commission. It registers as a corporation with the state and then may file for C Corporation status with the IRS. C Corporation status is a taxation category which provides income tax advantages to small businesses.

Requirements for Forming a District of Columbia C Corporation

Choosing a Company Name for Your C Corporation

One of the first steps in the process of forming your CA C Corporation is to choose your business name.

The business name that you choose must contain "Association", "Company", "Corporation", "Limited", "Incorporated", or an abbreviation of one of these words in their name. It must be distinguishable (not the same as or deceptively similar to) the name of an S Corp or foreign C Corporation reserved or registered.

Your C Corporation name may contain the name of one or more members.

By using UpCounsel, you can choose several business names in order of preference. Your attorney of choice can then conduct a name check for your District of Columbia S Corp before filing to see which names are available. Once you have chosen an available name, your chosen C Corporation attorney can help you properly register your name with the State of District of Columbia.

Articles of Organization: When forming an C Corporation in the District of Columbia, the Articles of Organization must be filed with the the District of Columbia Corporations Division. District of Columbia law requires that certain information be included in your Articles of Organization when forming your the District of Columbia C Corporation.

This information must include:

  1. The C-Corp's name and address.
  2. The C-Corp's purpose.
  3. The C-Corp's registered agent's name, address, and signature (accepting the position).

Additionally, a District of Columbia C Corporation formation generally requires inclusion and/or consideration of the following:

C Corporation Operating Agreement: Although the C Corporation Operating Agreement is not required with the Articles of Organization, it is a good idea for every C Corporation with more than one member to have one. The Articles of Organization may contain restrictions or prohibitions on the power of the members to adopt, amend, or repeal an operating agreement. the District of Columbia recognizes operating agreements as governing documents.

Membership: A C Corporation must have one or more members.

Eligibility Requirements: A natural person or an entity.

Procedure for Membership: The member may acquire an interest in the C Corporation directly from the C Corporation at the time of formation and, after formation, at the time provided in and upon compliance with the Articles of Organization or the operating agreement or, if not provided, only upon the vote of a majority in interest of the C Corporation members, excluding the vote of the person acquiring the membership interest, and only when the person becomes a party to the C-Corp's operating agreement.

Business Licenses: Business licenses and/or permits are required for most C-Corp's offering specific professional services. Contact the the District of Columbia Corporations Division for specific licenses.

Additionally, a District of Columbia C Corporation formation generally requires inclusion and/or consideration of the following:

C Corporation Operating Agreement: Although the C Corporation Operating Agreement is not required with the Articles of Incorporation, it is a good idea for every C Corporation with more than one member to have one. The Articles of Incorporation may contain restrictions or prohibitions on the power of the members to adopt, amend, or repeal an operating agreement. District of Columbia recognizes operating agreements as governing documents.

Membership: A C Corporation must have one or more members.

Eligibility Requirements: A natural person or an entity.

Procedure for Membership: The member may acquire an interest in the C Corporation directly from the C Corporation at the time of formation and, after formation, at the time provided in and upon compliance with the Articles of Incorporation or the operating agreement or, if not provided, only upon the vote of a majority in interest of the C Corporation members, excluding the vote of the person acquiring the membership interest, and only when the person becomes a party to the C-Corp's operating agreement.

Business Licenses: Business licenses and/or permits are required for most C-Corp's offering specific professional services. Contact the District of Columbia State Corporations Commission for specific licenses.

Resident Agent needed for a the District of Columbia C Corporation

Remember, every District of Columbia C Corporation must have a registered agent in the state, which is the person or office designated to receive official state correspondence and notice if the company is "served" with a lawsuit. The registered agent may be a full-time resident of the District of Columbia or a business entity that has authority to transact business in the District of Columbia. A physical District of Columbia street address is required of the registered agent.

The District of Columbia Corporations Division

Once you create an C Corporation in the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Corporations Division will require that certain recurring responsibilities and duties be fulfilled. The most important of these are explained below.

For further information, contact the the District of Columbia Corporations Division.

Recurring Responsibilities and Duties for District of Columbia C Corporations

Biennial Reports: Every District of Columbia C Corporation must submit a biannual report to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. This must be accompanied by a registration fee of $300. You must file using the Two-Year Report for Domestic & Foreign Filing Entity, Form BRA-25. Your first biennial report should be filed by April 1 after the year of C Corporation formation. After that, you will be required to file biennial reports every other April 1st. You should include in the report:

  1. C-Corp's name
  2. State where C Corporation first organized
  3. C-Corp's principal office address
  4. C-Corp's registered agent name and address
  5. Names and business addresses of managers (if applicable)

Records: Each the District of Columbia C Corporation must keep complete Corporation records open to inspection at its principal office.

Filing Fees for a District of Columbia C Corporation

The processing fee for the Articles of Organization is generally about $220. Also, the filing and reservation of the C-Corp's name is $50. These fees can change so it would be best to check with the the District of Columbia Corporations Division on what the latest fees are. You may pay these fees in many different forms including cash, check, money orders, or debit and credit cards.

Taxes for a District of Columbia C Corporation

California C Corporation shareholders do not report any of the business income and expense on their individual tax return. The corporation files tax returns and pays its income taxes (at generally lower tax rates than would individuals) while the individual shareholders report and pay personal income taxes only on monies paid them by the corporation.

It should be noted that shareholders are required to pay personal income taxes on income from dividends paid by a C Corporation even though income taxes have previously been paid by the corporation. This leads to what is commonly referred to as "double taxation".

California state law follows federal law for income tax purposes. Therefore if a corporation is classified as an association taxable as a C Corporation for federal income tax purposes, so will it be taxable as a corporation for state tax purposes.

Federal Income Tax: For federal income tax purposes, a C- Corp is recognized as a separate taxpaying entity. A corporation conducts business, realizes net income or loss, pays taxes and distributes profits to shareholders.

District of Columbia State Income Tax: District of Columbia C Corporations are exempt to the income tax to the extent that their income is not subject to federal income tax.

Federal Tax Identification Number: Your corporation will need to obtain a federal tax identification number, which is also known as an Employment Identification Number (EIN). You do not need to get a new EIN after the corporation choose to become a C Corporation An EIN is similar to an individual's social security number. You will need an EIN for your C Corporation as long as there is one member, even if the C Corporation does not have employees. For certain tax filing requirements the attorney you choose on UpCounsel can help prepare your Federal Tax ID Application, if you have not done so already.

Start Your Business Off Right with an Affordable C Corporation Attorney in District of Columbia

Start Your Company Off Right with Affordable C Corporation Attorneys in District of Columbia

Connect with Top District of Columbia C Corporation Formation Attorneys & Lawyers

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This is the most recent 20 reviews out of 26 reviews for Business Formation attorneys in District of Columbia

Darryl Shaper
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Buyout Agreement

Darryl Shaper

"Darryl helped me with my Asset Purchase Agreement and he was fantastic!"

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Washington, DC,

Darryl Shaper
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Buyout Agreement

Darryl Shaper

"I've used Darryl for 3 projects at this point and he continues to go above and beyond for me. His pricing is fixed and fair, and he consistently delivers more than he promises."

.
Washington, DC,

Darryl Shaper
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Dissolve Partnership

Darryl Shaper

"Darryl was great! I love how he structures his services to provide value at lower prices."

.
Washington, DC,

Michael Wieser
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Draft Operating Agreement

Michael Wieser

"It's been a pleasure working with Michael on our operating agreement and contract reviews. He took the time to understand our business needs and was able to craft a customized operating agreement as well as do an extremely quick turnaround contractor's contract redline for an international trip we had in less than 24 hours. He is highly efficient, personable, thoughtful, and trustworthy and we're looking forward to working with him again in the future."

.
Washington, DC,

Nina Yablok
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Draft Founders Agreement

Nina Yablok

"Nina is great to work with. She doesn't just send you a boilerplate template to modify as many others do. She speaks with you to understand the specific details of your needs then crafts a tailored deliverable in positive language that encourages partners' endorsement."

.
Washington, DC,

Andrew Kussmaul
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Operating Agreement

Andrew Kussmaul

"Andrew was great to work with and performed a thorough review of my documents with a clear explanation on what I should be considering. Would happily work with him again."

.
Washington, DC,

Sam Goldstein
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Restructure Corporation

Sam Goldstein

"Sam is great to work with. Approachable, communicative, responsive, and knowledgeable. I'd definitely work with him again."

.
Washington, DC,

Chrystan Carlton
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Other Business Formation Matter

Chrystan Carlton

"Very skilled and professional!"

.
Washington, DC,

Mathew Auric
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Mathew Auric

"A corporate document was requested by commercial bank and Auric prepared it quickly and with no issue. Highly recommended."

.
Washington, DC,

Chrystan Carlton
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Draft Operating Agreement

Chrystan Carlton

"Very knowledgeable attorney!"

.
Washington, DC,

Grant Maynard
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Corporate Dissolution

Grant Maynard

"Grant and everyone at his studio are super professional and knowledgeable. I’ve worked with them a few times for a corporate dissolution and would not hesitate to contact them again. Highly recommend!"

.
Washington, DC,

Michael Wieser
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Franchise Agreement

Michael Wieser

"Michael is very reliable"

.
Washington, DC,

Kimon Korres
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Restructure Corporation

Kimon Korres

"Kimon was fantastic to work with. I had some pretty unconventional structuring that needed to be sussed out, and he helped me understand ramifications of each choice."

.
Washington, DC,

Jeff Stoltz
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Operating Agreement Services

Jeff Stoltz

"Jeff was great to work with and very knowledgeable yet practical and strategic in helping us draft a joint venture LLC operating agreement"

.
Washington, DC,

Steven Stark
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Business Formation Consultation

Steven Stark

"Great insight and honest. He was able to perform all of our needs. There was one thing he wasn't able to do but he was straight forward and made adjustments without a single need of counter. Everything was amazing will HIGHLY recommend!"

.
Washington, DC,

Geoffrey Amend
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Assist with Founders Agreement

Geoffrey Amend

"Top notch attorney. Serious. Knowledgeable. Accurate. Will deal with him again"

.
Washington, DC,

Joshua Soloway
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Founders Agreement

Joshua Soloway

"Very knowledgeable and generous with his time. Would definitely recommend."

.
Washington, DC,

Ramsey Taylor
4.8
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Form Corporation & Register Shareholders

Ramsey Taylor

"Ramsey is really experienced and provides full view on any matter. he is reachable despite the time difference and always helpful"

.

Glenn Manishin
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Glenn Manishin

"Glenn was responsive and thorough in establishing what's necessary to accomplish my goal."

.
Washington, DC,

Drew Stokesbary
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Other Business Formation Matter Services

Drew Stokesbary

"Drew was extremely generous with his time and knowledge. He was patient and willing to explain everything in meaningful yet accessible detail."

.
Washington, DC,

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