CORPORATE INQUIRY - HELP MENU

This selection provides explanations/examples on how to make corporate inquiries using the corporate inquiry menu. It also provides a description of the corporate information available using the public access system, and a detailed explanation of data fields used.

Corporate Inquiry Functions, Explanations/Examples

As you, the user, view the corporate inquiry menu you will notice that you have several options available. To search using one of these methods, choose the appropriate option and proceed as instructed below. Below is a listing of those options as well as a description of their usage:

All of the inquiries except 'Corporate Detail', will result in a screen of names beginning with the closest name to the key you entered. The exact name you entered may or may not be present on the list of names.

You can page forward or backward through the list of names by using the 'Next List' 'Previous List' selections at the bottom of the screen.

To see the detail of the specific record that corresponds to the name you entered, click on the entity name. A detail screen will be displayed of that record.

You do not need to enter the entire name for the key. If you want to look up a corporation named 'Little Red School House, Inc.', you may enter any portion of the name as the key. For Example, you might choose to enter 'Little Red Sch.'

If the key is the name of an individual, you should enter last name, first name, middle initial or a portion thereof. Punctuation is optional.

You will want to enter enough of the name to position yourself in the file near the name you want without typing any more characters than necessary.

If you are inquiring by document number and a document does not exist with that exact number, you will get an error message: Record was not found.

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Corporate Name List

This transaction provides a list of the names of all business entities and registrations on the corporate data base (I.E. corporations, trademarks, limited partnerships, etc.). Beginning with the name that is closest to the name entered. This list also includes the document number and the status of each record.

Example:
To inquire about a specific entity name,
select the "Corporate Name List" option
type the name in the "Name" field,
then press the "Submit" button.

A partial key may be entered. For example, LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE, INC could be entered LITTLE RED SCH.

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Officer/Registered Agent Name List

This transaction provides a list of officers, directors, and registered agents beginning with the name that is closest to the name entered. The list also includes the name and document number of the business entity or registration related to the officer, director, or registered agent.

Example:
To inquire by an officer, director or registered agent name,
select the "Officer/Registered Agent Name List" option
type the name in the "Name" field (last name first),
then press the "Submit" button.

Individual names should be entered last name first. A partial key may be entered. For example, JOHN A. DOE may be entered DOE, J. Punctuation is not required.

To see the detail for any record, select the name you wish to see. The format of the data presented will be the same as "Corporate Detail".

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Registered Agent Name List

This transaction provides a list of all the registered agents beginning with the name that is closest to the key entered. The list also includes the name and the document number of the business entity or registration related to the registered agent.

Example:
To inquire by a registered agent name,
select the "Registered Agent Name List" option
type the name in the "Name" field (last name first),
then press the "Submit" button.

Individual names should be entered last name first. A partial key may be entered. For example, JOHN A. DOE may be entered DOE, J. Punctuation is not required.

To see the detail for any record, select the name you wish to see. The format of the data presented will be the same as "Corporate Detail".

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Trademark Name List

This transaction provides a list of trade or service mark names beginning with the name that is closest to the key entered. The list also includes the document number and the status or type of record.

Example:
To inquire about a specific trademark name,
select the "Trademark Name List" option
type the name in the "Name" field,
then press the "Submit" button.

A partial key may be entered. For example, LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE, INC could be entered LITTLE RED SCH.

To see the detail for any record, select the name you wish to see. The format of the data presented will be the same as "Corporate Detail". The trademark detail screen contains the following information: trademark name, document number, filed date, expiration date, date first used in Florida, date first used anywhere, status, etc.

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Trademark Owner Name List

This transaction provides a list of trademark owner names (whether it be a corporation or individual) beginning with the name that is closest to the key entered. The list also includes the trademark name and document number related to the owner name.

Example:
To inquire by a specific trademark owner name,
select the "Trademark Owner Name List" option
type the name in the "Name" field,
then press the "Submit" button.

To see the detail for any record, select the name you wish to see. The format of the data presented will be the same as "Corporate Detail". The trademark detail screen contains the following information: trademark name, document number, filed date, expiration date, date first used in Florida, date first used anywhere, status, etc.

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FEI Name List

This transaction provides a list of FEI numbers beginning with the number closest to the key entered. The list also includes the name and document number of the business entity or registration related to the FEI number. There may be multiple corporations listed for one FEI number.

Example:
To inquire by a specific FEI number,
select the "FEI Name List" option
type the FEI number in the "FEI Number" field,
then press the "Submit" button.

To see the detail for any record, select the name you wish to see. The format of the data presented will be the same as "Corporate Detail".

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Document Number

This transaction provides detail information on the actual filing of a business entity or registration requested by using a document number. If the requested document is not found the error message "Record was not found" will be displayed.

Note: As of October 1992, all new document numbers contain 12 characters. However, both six and 12 character document numbers are accessible.

Example:
To inquire by a specific document number,
select the "Document Number" option
type the document number in the "Document Number" field,
then press the "Submit" button.

The screen displayed contains information about the filing including name, document number, FEI number, date filed, principal and mailing address, and the name and address of the registered agent, officer/director information, etc. (You can reach this screen using any of the inquiry methods).

Name history and other event information relating to the filing can be obtained using links on the screen. If name changes or other events have been filed you will see the selections "View Events" and/or "View Name History". If no additional documents have been filed for the entity in question, the screen will display "No Events" and "No Name History Information".

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Requesting Images on the Corporate Database



From the Corporate Detail screen, scroll down to the section titled "Document Images". There you will notice hyperlink listings of the images available for the filing. This section will also inform you if there are no images available for the filing.

Displaying an image
After you have selected a hyperlink associated with an image, you can then open or view the image on your screen. The ability to display the image requires that you have a TIFF viewer associated with your Internet Browser. For more information about the Document Image System and TIFF files click here.

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Definition Of Data Items

This section provides explanations of the information found on the corporate name list screen and the corporate detail record screen.

Heading Definition
Document Number 6 or 12 digit number assigned when filed
FEI Number Federal Employer Identification Number assigned by Internal Revenue Service
Date Filed Date document was filed with the Division of Corporations
State State of domicile of entity
Status Status of filing: active, inactive, etc. (See explanation of terms Note: This will open a new window.)
Effective Date Effective date of existence of entity in Florida
Last Event Type of event most recently filed
Event Date Filed Date of filing of most recent event
Event Effective Date Effective date of most recent event
Registered Agent Name and address of the current registered agent
Officer/Director Detail Name, address, and title of the current officers/directors
Title Current officer or director capacity (See Abbreviations Note: This will open a new window.)
Annual Reports Year and date filed of last three Annual Reports

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