Who signs the Articles of Incorporation?

The “incorporator” signs the Articles of Incorporation. If initial directors are named in the Articles, they are deemed to be “incorporators” and also must sign the Articles in the presence of a notary public. For convenience and to avoid the need for the Articles to be notarized, the attorney who forms the corporation generally acts as the sole incorporator, and later resigns as the incorporator of the company. A facsimile signature is permitted under California law, but counterpart signatures are not.