Michigan Form CSCL/CD-502 is the Articles of Organization every person forming a domestic limited liability company in Michigan must file with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the state agency that creates and tracks business entities. Filing this form is the legal act that brings a new Michigan LLC into existence under the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act, Public Act 23 of 1993, and a single typo in the resident agent line or the company name can bounce the filing back, delay your EIN, and stall every bank account, contract, and lease that depends on a stamped copy.
The current revision date printed at the bottom of the official CSCL/CD-502 PDF is Rev. 04/22, so confirm your blank form matches before you write a word. According to the LARA Corporations Division annual report, Michigan processes more than 110,000 new LLC formations each year, and the Corporations Division reports that roughly one in five paper filings is rejected on first review, most often for resident agent or signature defects.
Here is what this guide gives you:
- 📄 A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on Form CSCL/CD-502, with example entries you can copy.
- 🧾 A pre-filing checklist of every document, ID, and detail to gather before you start typing.
- 🧑💼 Three full filer scenarios (solo freelancer, sibling real estate LLC, and a licensed Professional LLC) showing exactly what each person enters.
- 💵 A complete fee and expedite chart covering all four filing channels: online, mail, in person, and fax.
- ⚠️ The 12 most common mistakes that get filings rejected, plus the direct consequence of each.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form CSCL/CD-502 is the Articles of Organization for a Michigan domestic LLC, meaning it is the founding document that legally creates a limited liability company organized under Michigan law. It is filed with the LARA Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau, Corporations Division, which is the state office that approves, stamps, and stores the formation record. Without an approved CSCL/CD-502 on file, your LLC does not legally exist, even if you have a website, an EIN, and a logo.
Anyone organizing a new domestic LLC in Michigan must file this form, including single-member LLCs, multi-member LLCs, manager-managed LLCs, and Professional LLCs (PLLCs) under Article 8 of the Act. Foreign LLCs (those formed in another state that want to do business in Michigan) do not file CSCL/CD-502; they instead file Form CSCL/CD-760, the Application for Certificate of Authority.
Filing CSCL/CD-502 is required by MCL 450.4202, which is the statute that lists the mandatory contents of the Articles. The agency that receives it is LARA. The deadline that governs it is the day you want your LLC to legally exist, since the LLC is created on the date the Articles are endorsed (filed) by LARA. The penalty for non-compliance is simple: no LLC, no liability shield, and any business you do as a “company” is treated as a sole proprietorship or general partnership for legal and tax purposes.
A common misconception is that registering a Doing Business As name with your county clerk forms an LLC. It does not. Only CSCL/CD-502 (or its online equivalent in COFS) creates the entity.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Before you open the CSCL/CD-502 PDF or log into the Corporations Online Filing System (COFS), gather everything below. Each missing item is a separate reason your filing can stall, get rejected, or expose you to liability later.
- Proposed LLC name with the proper suffix. Michigan requires the name to end with Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., L.C., LLC, or LC. Without the suffix, the filing is rejected on the spot.
- Name availability check from the LARA Business Entity Search. If the name is already taken or too similar to an active entity, your form will not be endorsed.
- Purpose statement (only required for PLLCs under Article 8). Standard LLCs may use a general purpose, but PLLCs must list the specific licensed profession.
- Resident agent’s full legal name. The resident agent is the person or company that accepts legal papers for the LLC; getting this wrong delays service of process and can cost you a default judgment later.
- Michigan street address for the resident office. P.O. boxes are not allowed. The agent must be physically reachable during business hours.
- Mailing address (if different from the resident office). Used for routine LARA correspondence and renewal notices.
- Duration of the LLC. Most filers leave this blank for perpetual existence; if your LLC must dissolve on a fixed date, you need that date in writing now.
- Effective date (optional). You can delay the effective date up to 90 days after filing, useful for clean January 1 starts.
- Organizer’s signature and printed name. The organizer is the person signing the form into existence; they do not have to be a member.
- Payment method. Standard fee is $50, but expedited service ranges from $50 to $1,000, and only certain payment types are accepted at each channel.
- MICH-ELF account number (only for fax filers). Without it, fax filings are not accepted.
- Email address (for COFS filers). All endorsement notices go to that inbox.
If any of these are missing, stop. A rejected CSCL/CD-502 still costs you the filing fee in time and can push your start date past the quarter, the lease signing, or the loan closing.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The blank, current-revision form lives on the LARA Corporations Division website. The direct PDF is the CSCL/CD-502 Articles of Organization, and the agency keeps the master list of every entity form on the LARA Corporate Forms page. Always download a fresh copy each time you file, because LARA reissues forms with quiet revisions and an outdated form can be rejected for using superseded language.
If you prefer to type your filing rather than scan a paper one, log into the Corporations Online Filing System (COFS) and select Form a New Domestic Limited Liability Company. COFS pulls the same statutory fields as CSCL/CD-502 but validates them as you go, flagging duplicate names and missing resident agent data before you pay.
A common misconception is that you can file any Word document or attorney-drafted “operating articles” instead of CSCL/CD-502. You cannot. LARA only accepts its own form (or its COFS equivalent). Operating agreements, bylaws, and member resolutions are internal documents and never get filed with the state.
If you need accommodations or a paper copy mailed to you, call the Corporations Division at 517-241-6470 or email CorpsMail@michigan.gov, the addresses listed on the LARA contact page.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form CSCL/CD-502 Line by Line
The form is two pages. Page one is the header block plus Articles I through V. Page two is the signature block and the LARA mailing instructions. Every field below is numbered exactly as it appears on the official form. Do not paraphrase field labels and do not skip a box, even if it looks optional.
Preparer’s Information Block (top of page 1)
The very top of the form has a small box labeled Name of person or organization remitting fees and Preparer’s name and business telephone number. This is who LARA contacts if there is a problem with the filing.
In plain English, the box asks who is sending the form and who LARA should call if a question arises. Type or print the full name of the person paying the fee on the first line, and the preparer’s name and a daytime phone number on the second. Use clean, all-caps block letters if filing on paper so the data-entry clerk can read it.
For example, MARIA LOPEZ writes MARIA LOPEZ on the remitter line and MARIA LOPEZ – 313-555-0144 on the preparer line. If a CPA or attorney is filing on her behalf, that professional’s name and number go here instead.
A nuance: if the remitter and preparer are the same person, write the same name twice. Do not leave the second line blank, because LARA reads a blank line as a missing preparer.
A common mistake is leaving a personal cell phone with no voicemail set up; if LARA cannot reach you within their callback window, the filing is suspended and your endorsement date slips. The misconception here is that this block is “just a return address,” when it is actually the contact LARA uses to fix typos before rejecting the form.
Article I — Name of the Limited Liability Company
Article I asks for the name of the limited liability company. This is the legal name your LLC will carry forever (until amended), and it must end with one of the statutory suffixes.
In plain English, write the exact name you want the state to register, with the proper LLC ending. Use the form of the name you ran through the LARA name search, capitalization included. Sample entry: LAKESHORE DESIGN STUDIO, L.L.C.
A nuance: if your name contains restricted words like Bank, Insurance, University, or Attorney, you must attach the appropriate regulator approval before LARA will endorse the form. Forgetting this triggers an automatic rejection.
The most common mistake is dropping the suffix or using a non-statutory variant such as Ltd. Co.; the consequence is immediate rejection and a refile, which can take another 7–10 business days through the standard channel. The misconception is that adding Inc. or Corp. is acceptable shorthand. It is not, and using a corporate suffix on an LLC form is a hard rejection under MCL 450.4204.
Article II — Purpose
Article II asks for the purpose or purposes for which the limited liability company is formed. For a regular LLC, the standard short statement is enough. For a PLLC, you must name the licensed profession.
In plain English, this box tells the world (and the IRS, and the courts) what the company exists to do. For a non-professional LLC, write a broad statement such as To engage in any activity within the purposes for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act. For a PLLC, you must specifically state the profession, for example The practice of medicine.
Sample entry for a freelance designer: To engage in any lawful business for which a Michigan limited liability company may be organized. Sample entry for a CPA forming a PLLC: To practice the profession of public accountancy.
A nuance: PLLCs must list only one professional service unless the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs authorizes a combination, like a medical and surgical practice.
The mistake to avoid is copying a generic purpose into a PLLC; LARA will reject any PLLC that does not state the licensed profession in this article. The misconception is that a vague purpose protects future flexibility. Michigan already grants broad powers under the Act, so general purpose language is fine for non-professional LLCs without limiting future expansion.
Article III — Duration
Article III asks how long the LLC will exist. Most LLCs are perpetual, meaning they exist until formally dissolved.
In plain English, if the LLC will exist forever, leave this blank or write the word Perpetual. If the LLC must dissolve on a specific date (common in real estate joint ventures or movie production companies), write the exact dissolution date in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Sample entry: Perpetual. Or, for a fixed-term LLC: 12/31/2035.
A nuance: a fixed duration automatically dissolves the LLC on that date unless the members file an amendment first. Banks and lenders sometimes refuse to extend credit past a fixed-term date, so think hard before choosing one.
A common mistake is writing N/A in this box, which some examiners read as a refusal to answer; the safer move is to leave the field blank or write Perpetual. The misconception is that a fixed term is required because the form has the field; it is not, and most Michigan LLCs are perpetual.
Article IV — Resident Agent and Registered Office
Article IV is the most-rejected part of CSCL/CD-502. It asks for the resident agent’s name, the street address of the registered office in Michigan, and the mailing address if different.
In plain English, the resident agent is the human or company that accepts lawsuits and official mail for the LLC. Enter the agent’s full legal name on the Name of resident agent line, the Michigan street address (no P.O. boxes) on the Street address of registered office in Michigan line, the city, and the ZIP code. If the mailing address is different, fill the next block; otherwise leave it blank.
Sample entry for solo founder Maria Lopez acting as her own agent:
- Resident Agent: MARIA LOPEZ
- Street Address: 482 RIVERFRONT DR, DETROIT, MI 48226
- Mailing Address: same
A nuance: if you hire a commercial registered agent service, the agent’s name on this line must match exactly the name on file with LARA, including punctuation. A mismatch gets the filing rejected.
A common mistake is using a P.O. box for the registered office; Michigan rejects this every time because process servers must be able to deliver papers in person. The consequence is rejection plus the lost time before refiling. The misconception is that a UPS Store mailbox counts as a “street address” because it has a number; LARA treats commercial mailbox suites as P.O. boxes for resident-agent purposes.
Article V — Management (Optional Statement)
Article V is the optional statement of additional provisions, including whether the LLC is manager-managed. Michigan does not require you to declare manager-managed status here, but if you want it on the public record, this is the place.
In plain English, if you want the world to know your LLC has appointed managers separate from the members, write a sentence saying so. If you are member-managed (the default), leave this blank.
Sample entry for a manager-managed LLC: The limited liability company is managed by one or more managers.
A nuance: even if you leave Article V blank, your operating agreement can still designate managers internally. The article is for public notice, mainly used when banks or counterparties insist on seeing it on the Articles.
A common mistake is putting the operating agreement’s full text into Article V; LARA only needs the high-level statement, and a long entry can trigger a rewrite request. The misconception is that silence here means member-managed forever; you can amend later by filing a Certificate of Amendment, CSCL/CD-515.
Effective Date (Optional)
Below the articles, the form has an optional effective date line that lets you postpone the legal birth of the LLC up to 90 days after the filing date.
In plain English, if you want the LLC to start on a specific future date (often January 1 for clean tax-year reasons), write that date in MM/DD/YYYY format. If you want it to start the day LARA endorses it, leave this blank.
Sample entry: 01/01/2027.
A nuance: if the date you write is more than 90 days out, LARA ignores it and uses the endorsement date instead, under MCL 450.4202(2).
A common mistake is filing in late November with a January 1 effective date but using the standard 7–10 day channel; if LARA gets backed up, the form may not be endorsed in time. Use 24-hour or same-day expedite to lock in a year-end filing. The misconception is that the effective date controls your IRS tax-year start; the IRS uses its own rules, and you may still need a short tax year regardless.
Signature Block
The final required field is the organizer’s signature, printed name, and date. The organizer is the person who signs the LLC into existence; they do not have to be a member.
In plain English, sign your full legal name in the Signature line, print the same name underneath, write your title (organizer, member, or attorney-in-fact), and date the form in MM/DD/YYYY. Multiple organizers may sign, and each one needs their own line.
Sample entry: Signature: Maria Lopez (in cursive). Printed Name: MARIA LOPEZ. Title: Organizer. Date: 03/14/2026.
A nuance: if an attorney signs as attorney-in-fact, LARA may request a copy of the power of attorney before endorsing. Have it ready as a PDF for COFS uploads.
A common mistake is signing in the wrong color (light pencil or non-black ink); paper filings can be rejected because the scan is unreadable. The misconception is that an electronic typed signature is enough on a paper filing. Paper filings need an ink signature; only COFS accepts a typed/electronic signature under Michigan’s Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three named filers, each walked through CSCL/CD-502 in a 2-column scenario table. Use them as templates for the most common Michigan LLC formations.
Scenario 1 — Maria Lopez, Solo Freelance Graphic Designer
Maria is forming a single-member, member-managed LLC for her freelance graphic design business in Detroit. She will serve as her own resident agent and wants the LLC effective the day LARA endorses it.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Remitter / Preparer | MARIA LOPEZ – 313-555-0144 |
| Article I — Name | LAKESHORE DESIGN STUDIO, L.L.C. |
| Article II — Purpose | To engage in any lawful business for which a Michigan limited liability company may be organized. |
| Article III — Duration | Perpetual |
| Article IV — Resident Agent | MARIA LOPEZ |
| Article IV — Registered Office | 482 RIVERFRONT DR, DETROIT, MI 48226 |
| Article V — Management | (left blank, member-managed) |
| Effective Date | (left blank) |
| Signature / Title / Date | Maria Lopez / Organizer / 03/14/2026 |
| Filing Channel & Fee | COFS online, $50 standard |
Scenario 2 — Carlos and Elena Reyes, Sibling Real Estate Holding LLC
Carlos and Elena are forming a multi-member, manager-managed LLC to hold three rental duplexes in Grand Rapids. They hire a commercial registered agent and want a January 1, 2027 effective date.
| Form Section | What Carlos and Elena Enter |
|---|---|
| Remitter / Preparer | CARLOS REYES – 616-555-0188 |
| Article I — Name | REYES FAMILY HOLDINGS, LLC |
| Article II — Purpose | To acquire, hold, lease, and manage real property and any other lawful business under the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act. |
| Article III — Duration | Perpetual |
| Article IV — Resident Agent | NORTHWEST REGISTERED AGENT LLC |
| Article IV — Registered Office | 2055 PLAINFIELD AVE NE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49505 |
| Article V — Management | The limited liability company is managed by one or more managers. |
| Effective Date | 01/01/2027 |
| Signature / Title / Date | Carlos Reyes / Organizer / 12/05/2026 |
| Filing Channel & Fee | Mail, $50 standard + $50 24-hour expedite |
Scenario 3 — Dr. Janet Okafor, Solo Professional LLC (Medicine)
Janet is a licensed physician forming a PLLC under Article 8 to run a small primary care practice in Lansing. She is the only member and the only manager.
| Form Section | What Dr. Okafor Enters |
|---|---|
| Remitter / Preparer | JANET OKAFOR, M.D. – 517-555-0122 |
| Article I — Name | OKAFOR PRIMARY CARE, P.L.L.C. |
| Article II — Purpose | The practice of medicine. |
| Article III — Duration | Perpetual |
| Article IV — Resident Agent | JANET OKAFOR |
| Article IV — Registered Office | 310 W SAGINAW ST, LANSING, MI 48933 |
| Article V — Management | The professional limited liability company is managed by its sole member. |
| Effective Date | (left blank) |
| Signature / Title / Date | Janet Okafor, M.D. / Organizer and Sole Member / 03/02/2026 |
| Filing Channel & Fee | In person, $50 standard + $100 same-day expedite |
A fourth named filer, Marcus Bell, founder of BELL TRUCKING LOGISTICS, LLC, appears later in the mistakes section, and a fifth, Aisha Hassan, organizer of HASSAN BAKERY HOLDINGS, LLC, appears in the FAQs.
How to File the Completed Form
Michigan accepts CSCL/CD-502 through four channels. Each has its own fee schedule, payment rules, processing time, and proof-of-filing. Pick the one that matches your urgency and comfort with technology.
Online via COFS
The fastest standard channel is the Corporations Online Filing System. Create an account, choose Form a New Domestic Limited Liability Company, and walk through the same fields as the paper form. The base fee is $50, payable by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or ACH. Standard processing is typically 1–3 business days, and your endorsed Articles arrive as a downloadable PDF in your COFS inbox. Keep that PDF as your proof of filing.
Mail the signed paper CSCL/CD-502 with a check or money order payable to State of Michigan to: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau, Corporations Division, P.O. Box 30054, Lansing, MI 48909. The base fee is $50. Standard processing is 7–10 business days from receipt. Your proof of filing is the stamped, returned copy LARA mails back to the preparer’s address.
In Person
Walk-in filings are accepted at 2407 N. Grand River Avenue, Lansing, MI 48906. The base fee is $50, payable by check, money order, cash, or credit card. Same-day pickup is available with a $100 expedite. Your proof of filing is the endorsed copy handed back to you at the counter; ask for a date-stamp on a duplicate before you leave.
Fax via MICH-ELF
Fax filings require a MICH-ELF account. Fax the signed form to 517-241-0538, with the MICH-ELF cover sheet on top so the fee posts to your account. Processing time matches whichever expedite tier you select. Proof of filing is the endorsement letter LARA mails or emails back.
Expedited Service Tiers
Under MCL 450.4221, LARA offers four expedite levels on top of the base fee: $50 for 24-hour service, $100 for same-day, $500 for 2-hour, and $1,000 for 1-hour service. Same-day, 2-hour, and 1-hour requests must be received by specific cutoff times posted on the LARA expedited service page.
What Happens After You File
Once LARA endorses CSCL/CD-502, your LLC legally exists on the date stamped on the form (or the future effective date you chose). LARA returns an endorsed copy through the channel you used: a PDF in COFS, a stamped paper copy by mail, or a counter copy in person. That endorsement is the document banks, the IRS, landlords, and clients will ask to see, so save at least three digital copies in different places.
Within a few days of endorsement, your LLC will appear in the public LARA Business Entity Search. At that point, you can apply for an EIN through the IRS EIN Assistant, open a business bank account, and sign contracts in the LLC’s name. Until the search shows your entity as Active, banks may refuse to open the account.
Every Michigan LLC must file an annual statement on Form CSCL/CD-2700 by February 15 of each year following formation, with a $25 fee. Missing two consecutive annual statements puts the LLC into not in good standing status, and missing further can lead to administrative dissolution under MCL 450.4909. Reinstatement is possible but adds catch-up fees and paperwork.
If you need to change anything filed in the Articles later (name, resident agent, purpose, duration), file a Certificate of Amendment, CSCL/CD-515. To change only the resident agent or registered office, use the cheaper CSCL/CD-520.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each mistake below has a direct, specific consequence. Marcus Bell, founder of BELL TRUCKING LOGISTICS, LLC, lost ten days on his first filing because of mistake #3 alone.
- Forgetting the LLC suffix in Article I. LARA rejects the filing on first review, and you must refile and pay another fee if your check has already cleared.
- Using a P.O. box in Article IV. The form is rejected the same day it is reviewed, and your endorsement date slips by the full processing window.
- Listing a commercial mailbox (UPS Store) as a registered office. LARA treats this as a P.O. box and rejects it, even though it has a street number.
- Skipping the resident agent’s name entirely. The form is unfileable and bounces back without review.
- Naming a resident agent who has not consented. The agent can refuse service, leaving the LLC exposed to default judgments.
- Writing a vague purpose in a PLLC. Article 8 PLLCs are rejected unless the specific licensed profession is named.
- Using a corporate suffix like Inc. or Corp. on an LLC form. Hard rejection under MCL 450.4204.
- Choosing an effective date more than 90 days out. LARA ignores the date and uses the endorsement date, which can ruin a planned tax year start.
- Signing in pencil or light blue ink on a paper filing. The scan fails and the form is rejected for unreadable signature.
- Forgetting to include payment or sending the wrong amount. The filing is held in suspense and not processed until the fee clears.
- Mailing the form without the preparer’s phone number. LARA cannot call to fix small errors and rejects instead.
- Filing CSCL/CD-502 for a foreign LLC. Wrong form entirely; foreign LLCs need CSCL/CD-760.
Dos and Don’ts
A short list of habits that save filers from refile cycles and missed deadlines.
Dos
- Do run the proposed name through the LARA Business Entity Search the same day you file, because new conflicts appear hourly.
- Do use a real Michigan street address for the registered office, since service of process must be physical.
- Do keep at least three digital copies of the endorsed Articles, because banks, the IRS, and counterparties all ask for it.
- Do calendar the February 15 annual statement date, because missing two in a row triggers not in good standing status.
- Do pay for 24-hour expedite if you are filing in late November or December with a January 1 effective date, so the filing clears in time.
- Do match the resident agent’s name exactly to the agent’s record on file with LARA, because a comma or accent mismatch causes rejection.
Don’ts
- Don’t reuse last year’s downloaded blank form, because LARA quietly revises the PDF and an outdated version can be rejected.
- Don’t list a P.O. box as the registered office, because process servers must serve in person.
- Don’t draft your own “Articles” in Word, because LARA only accepts CSCL/CD-502 or its COFS equivalent.
- Don’t sign in pencil or with a typed signature on a paper filing, because the scan must show a clear ink signature.
- Don’t leave the preparer’s phone number blank, because LARA’s first move on a small error is a phone call.
- Don’t confuse a DBA filed at the county clerk with an LLC, because only CSCL/CD-502 creates the entity.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Filing CSCL/CD-502 yourself is genuinely simple for most one- and two-person LLCs, but there are situations where a professional pays for itself. Use the chart below to decide.
| Filing Pro Se (Yourself) | Filing With an Attorney or Formation Service |
|---|---|
| Saves $200–$1,000 in legal or service fees | Reduces rejection risk on complex names, PLLCs, and multi-state structures |
| Forces you to learn the Michigan LLC Act, which helps later | Pairs the Articles with a tailored operating agreement, often the bigger value |
| Faster for simple single-member filings, especially through COFS | Handles registered agent service so you do not list your home address publicly |
| You retain direct control of the filing record and email notices | Catches name conflicts and trademark issues before the filing |
| No reliance on a third-party service that could miss renewal deadlines | Coordinates EIN, S-corp election, and operating agreement in one workflow |
Pros of filing yourself
- Lowest cost.
- Fastest turnaround for clean, simple filings.
- You learn the system you will use every year.
- Direct access to your COFS account, no intermediaries.
- Avoids the upsell cycles of national formation companies.
Cons of filing yourself
- Easy to miss a name suffix or P.O. box rule and trigger rejection.
- No operating agreement comes with the filing.
- Your personal address may end up in a public database.
- No advice on tax classification (S-corp vs. default).
- No reminders for the February 15 annual statement.
Key Entities and Related Forms
The CSCL/CD-502 sits inside a small ecosystem of Michigan agencies, statutes, and sister forms. Knowing how they connect saves you from filing the wrong document.
The agency is the LARA Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau, Corporations Division. The governing statute is the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act, MCL 450.4101 et seq. PLLCs are governed by Article 8 of the Act, beginning at MCL 450.4901. Foreign LLCs use CSCL/CD-760, amendments use CSCL/CD-515, resident agent changes use CSCL/CD-520, and the annual statement uses CSCL/CD-2700.
The Michigan Department of Treasury handles state tax registration after formation through Form 518. The IRS handles the federal EIN through the EIN Assistant. Where federal beneficial-ownership reporting applies, the U.S. Treasury’s FinCEN is the receiving agency.
Michigan courts have repeatedly held, including in Duray Development, LLC v. Perrin, 288 Mich. App. 143 (2010), that an LLC does not exist before its Articles are filed and endorsed, meaning contracts signed in the LLC’s name before endorsement may bind the signer personally. This is why the endorsement date on CSCL/CD-502 is not just paperwork; it is the moment your liability shield begins.
FAQs
Is Form CSCL/CD-502 the same as an Operating Agreement?
No. CSCL/CD-502 is the public Articles of Organization filed with LARA. An operating agreement is a private internal contract between members and is never filed.
Can I use a P.O. box for the registered office in Article IV?
No. Michigan requires a physical street address where a process server can deliver papers, so a P.O. box or a UPS Store mailbox triggers automatic rejection.
Do I have to live in Michigan to form a Michigan LLC?
No. The members and organizer can live anywhere, but the resident agent must have a Michigan street address.
Should Article II list multiple purposes for a regular LLC?
No. A general statement is enough. Listing every possible activity wastes space and does not expand your legal powers under the Act.
Do I write Perpetual or leave Article III blank for an LLC with no end date?
Yes. Either is accepted. Most filers write Perpetual to remove any doubt during examiner review.
Is the effective date the same as my IRS tax-year start?
No. The effective date controls Michigan formation only. The IRS sets your tax year separately based on its own classification rules.
Can a single person form a Michigan LLC?
Yes. Single-member LLCs are allowed and are the most common structure. Aisha Hassan did exactly this for HASSAN BAKERY HOLDINGS, LLC.
Do I need to attach an operating agreement to CSCL/CD-502?
No. LARA does not accept or store operating agreements. Keep yours signed and filed in your records.
Can I sign electronically in Article IV’s signature block?
Yes, but only when filing through COFS. Paper filings require a wet ink signature, or the form is rejected for unreadable scan.
Is Article V required for manager-managed LLCs?
No. Manager-managed status can live in your operating agreement. Article V is optional but useful when banks demand public proof.
Do I need a federal EIN before filing CSCL/CD-502?
No. Form the LLC first, then apply for the EIN. The IRS asks for the LLC’s legal name, which only exists after endorsement.
Can I use Inc. or Corp. in my Article I name?
No. Only LLC suffixes are allowed under MCL 450.4204. Using Inc. triggers an immediate rejection.
Is the $50 filing fee refundable if my form is rejected?
No. The fee is non-refundable once processed. Refile carefully to avoid paying twice.
Do PLLCs use a different form than CSCL/CD-502?
No. PLLCs use the same CSCL/CD-502 form, but Article II must name the licensed profession, and member/manager licensing is verified at filing.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form CSCL/CD-2000 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form CSCL/CD-2700 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form CSCL/CD-500 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form CSCL/CD-700 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form CSCL/CD-731 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form CSCL/CD-760 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Georgia Form CD 100 (w/Examples) + FAQs