Chapter 180

180.0124 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 2021 a. 258.

180.0125 180.0125 Filing duty of department of financial institutions.

180.0125(1) (1) Upon receipt of a document by the department for filing, the department shall stamp or otherwise endorse the date of receipt on the original, the document copy and, upon request, any additional document copy received. The department shall return any additional document copy to the person delivering it, as confirmation of the date of receipt. The duty of the department under this section is ministerial.

180.0125(2) (2) 

180.0125(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), if a document satisfies s. 180.0120 and the terms of the document satisfy, if applicable, s. 180.0401 (1) and (2) or 180.1506 (1) and (2), the department shall file the document by stamping or otherwise endorsing “Filed”, together with the department name, on both the original and the document copy. After filing a document, the department shall deliver the document copy to the domestic corporation or foreign corporation, or its representative.

180.0125(2)(b) (b) If a domestic corporation or foreign corporation is in default in the payment of any fee required under s. 180.0122 with respect to any of the following documents, the department shall refuse to file any document relating to the domestic corporation or foreign corporation until all delinquent fees are paid by the domestic corporation or foreign corporation:

180.0125(2)(b)1. 1. Articles of incorporation.

180.0125(2)(b)2. 2. An application for use of indistinguishable name.

180.0125(2)(b)3. 3. A written application for reserved name or renewal of reserved name.

180.0125(2)(b)4. 4. A notice of transfer of reserved name or of registered name.

180.0125(2)(b)5. 5. An application for registered name or renewal of registered name.

180.0125(2)(b)6. 6. A statement of change of registered office.

180.0125(2)(b)7. 7. Amendment of articles of incorporation.

180.0125(2)(b)8. 8. Restatement of articles of incorporation with or without amendment of articles.

180.0125(2)(b)9. 9. Articles of merger, conversion, interest exchange, or domestication.

180.0125(2)(b)10. 10. Articles of dissolution.

180.0125(2)(b)11. 11. Articles of revocation of dissolution.

180.0125(2)(b)12. 12. An application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution.

180.0125(2)(b)13. 13. Certificate of reinstatement.

180.0125(2)(b)14. 14. Certificate of judicial dissolution.

180.0125(2)(b)15. 15. An application for certificate of authority.

180.0125(2)(b)16. 16. An application for amended certificate of authority.

180.0125(2)(b)17. 17. An application for certificate of withdrawal.

180.0125(2)(b)18. 18. An annual report of a domestic corporation or foreign corporation.

180.0125(2)(b)19. 19. Articles of correction.

180.0125(3) (3) 

180.0125(3)(a) (a) If the department refuses to file a document, the department shall return it to the domestic corporation or foreign corporation, or its representative, within 5 business days after the document was received by the department for filing, together with a brief, written explanation of the reason for the refusal.

180.0125(3)(b) (b) The department’s failure to either file or return a document within 5 business days after it was received constitutes a refusal to file the document.

180.0125(3)(c) (c) Except as provided in s. 180.0124 (3), if a document that had been refused for filing by the department is resubmitted and filed by the department, the effective date of the filed document under s. 180.0123 is the date that the resubmitted document is received by the department for filing or a delayed effective date specified in the resubmitted document in accordance with s. 180.0123 (2). The effective time of the resubmitted document shall be determined under s. 180.0123 (1) or (2), whichever is applicable.

180.0125(4) (4) Except as provided in s. 180.0203 (2), the department’s filing of, or refusal to file, a document does not affect the validity or invalidity of the document in whole or part and does not create a presumption of any of the following:

180.0125(4)(am) (am) That the document does or does not conform to the requirements of this chapter.

180.0125(4)(c) (c) That the information contained in the document is correct or incorrect.

180.0125 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 2001 a. 44; 2021 a. 258.

180.0126 180.0126 Appeal from department of financial institutions’ refusal to file document.

180.0126(1) (1) If the department refuses to file a document received by the department for filing, the domestic corporation or foreign corporation may appeal the refusal by filing a petition in circuit court to compel the department to file the document. The domestic corporation or foreign corporation shall file the petition in the circuit court for the county where the domestic corporation’s or foreign corporation’s principal office or, if none in this state, its registered office is or will be located. The domestic corporation or foreign corporation shall attach to the petition the document and any explanation by the department of the reasons for the refusal to file.

180.0126(2) (2) The domestic corporation or foreign corporation shall file the petition under sub. (1) within 30 days after the department returns the document under s. 180.0125 (3) (a). If the department does not return the document within the period specified in s. 180.0125 (3) (b), the domestic corporation or foreign corporation shall file the petition within 30 days after the period specified in s. 180.0125 (3) (b) expires.

180.0126(3) (3) The court may summarily order the department to file the document or take other action that the court considers appropriate. The court’s final decision may be appealed as in other civil proceedings.

180.0126 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 35.

180.0127 180.0127 Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document. A certified copy of a document filed by the department is conclusive evidence that the original document is on file with the department.

180.0127 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27.

180.0128 180.0128 Confirmation of status.

180.0128(1) (1) Any person may obtain from the department, upon request, a certificate of status for a domestic corporation or foreign corporation.

180.0128(2) (2) A certificate of status shall include all of the following information:

180.0128(2)(a) (a) The domestic corporation’s corporate name or the foreign corporation’s corporate name and fictitious name, if any, used in this state.

180.0128(2)(b) (b) Whether each of the following is true:

180.0128(2)(b)1. 1. The domestic corporation is incorporated under the laws of this state, or the foreign corporation is authorized to transact business in this state.

180.0128(2)(b)3. 3. The domestic corporation or foreign corporation has, during its most recently completed report year, filed with the department an annual report required by s. 180.1622, or, if a service corporation, by s. 180.1921.

180.0128(2)(b)4. 4. The domestic corporation has not filed articles of dissolution.

180.0128(2)(b)5. 5. The foreign corporation has not applied for a certificate of withdrawal under s. 180.1520 and, if not, the effective date of its certificate of authority.

180.0128(2)(c) (c) The domestic corporation’s date of incorporation and the period of its duration if less than perpetual.

180.0128(3) (3) The certificate of status may include other facts of record in the department that are requested.

180.0128(4) (4) Upon request, the department shall issue, by telegraph, teletype, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication, a statement of status, which shall contain the information required in a certificate of status under sub. (2) and may contain any other information permitted under sub. (3).

180.0128(5) (5) Subject to any qualification stated in a certificate or statement of status issued by the department, the certificate or statement is conclusive evidence that the domestic corporation or foreign corporation is in existence or is authorized to transact business in this state.

180.0128(6) (6) Upon request by telephone or otherwise, the department shall confirm, by telephone, any of the information required in a certificate of status under sub. (2) and may confirm any other information permitted under sub. (3).

180.0128 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1991 a. 16; 1995 a. 27; 2021 a. 258.

180.0129 180.0129 Penalty for false document.

180.0129(1) (1) A person may not sign a document with intent that it be delivered to the department for filing or deliver, or cause to be delivered, a document to the department for filing, if the person knows that the document is false in any material respect at the time of its delivery.

180.0129(2) (2) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a Class I felony.

180.0129 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 283; 2001 a. 109.

180.0141 180.0141 Knowledge; notice.

180.0141(1) (1) A person knows a fact if any of the following applies:

180.0141(1)(a) (a) The person has actual knowledge of the fact.

180.0141(1)(b) (b) The person is deemed to know the fact under law other than this chapter.

180.0141(2) (2) A person has notice of a fact if the person has reason to know the fact from all the facts known to the person at the time in question.

180.0141(3) (3) Subject to s. 180.0504 or the law other than this chapter, a person notifies another person of a fact by taking steps reasonably required to inform the other person in ordinary course, whether or not those steps cause the other person to know the fact.

180.0141(4) (4) Written notice to a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state may be addressed to its registered agent at its registered office or to the domestic corporation or foreign corporation at its principal office. With respect to a foreign corporation that has not yet filed an annual report under s. 180.1622, the address of the foreign corporation’s principal office may be determined from its application for a certificate of authority.

180.0141(5) (5) 

180.0141(5)(a) (a) This subsection applies to notice that is required under this chapter and that is made subject to this subsection by express reference to this subsection. Except as provided in par. (b), written notice is effective at the earliest of the following:

180.0141(5)(a)1. 1. When received.

180.0141(5)(a)2. 2. Five days after its deposit in the U.S. mail, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed.

180.0141(5)(a)3. 3. On the date shown on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and the receipt is signed by or on behalf of the addressee.

180.0141(5)(a)4. 4. For notices from the department, upon successful transmission by e-mail as provided in this chapter.

180.0141(5)(b) (b) Written notice by a domestic corporation or foreign corporation to its shareholder is effective under any of the following conditions:

180.0141(5)(b)1. 1. When mailed, but only if mailed postpaid and addressed to the shareholder’s address shown in the domestic corporation’s or foreign corporation’s current record of shareholders.

180.0141(5)(b)2. 2. When electronically transmitted to the shareholder in a manner authorized by the shareholder.

180.0141(5)(c) (c) Oral notice is effective when communicated.

180.0141(6) (6) 

180.0141(6)(a) (a) A person shall give notice in writing, except as provided in par. (b). For purposes of this section, notice by electronic transmission is written notice.

180.0141(6)(b) (b) A person may give oral notice if oral notice is permitted by the articles of incorporation or bylaws and not otherwise prohibited by this chapter.

180.0141(7) (7) Except as provided in s. 180.0721 (4) or unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws, notice may be communicated in person; by mail or other method of delivery; by telephone, including voice mail, answering machine or answering service; or by any other electronic means. If these forms of personal notice are impracticable, notice may be communicated by a newspaper of general circulation in the area where published, or by radio, television, or other form of public broadcast communication.

180.0141 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1999 a. 9; 2021 a. 258.

180.0142 180.0142 Number of shareholders.

180.0142(1) (1) For purposes of this chapter, any of the following constitute one shareholder if identified as a shareholder in a corporation’s current record of shareholders:

180.0142(1)(a) (a) Three or fewer co-owners.

180.0142(1)(b) (b) An entity.

180.0142(1)(c) (c) The trustees, guardians, custodians or other fiduciaries of a single trust, estate or account.

180.0142(2) (2) For purposes of this chapter, shareholdings registered in substantially similar names constitute one shareholder if it is reasonable to believe that the names represent the same person.

180.0142 History History: 1989 a. 303.

180.0143 180.0143 Withdrawal of filed documents before effectiveness.