Form DGCA-1, Articles of Incorporation for Domestic General Cooperative Association, is the District of Columbia form that establishes a new general cooperative association. It is issued by the Corporations Division of the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). Incorporators use it to state the association's name, purpose, term, offices, directors, share structure, ownership and control, and the way surplus is distributed on dissolution. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; DLCP publishes the original at the official source link.
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What is DGCA-1?
Form DGCA-1, Articles of Incorporation for Domestic General Cooperative Association, is the DLCP Corporations Division form that establishes a new Domestic General Cooperative Association in the District of Columbia. Its entity type and authority are listed as § 29–906 and § 29-102.01 of the D.C. Code.
The file has two parts. The first page is an instruction sheet that lists the information articles of incorporation must contain, and says you may draft your own articles from that list or use the Articles of Incorporation printed on page 2. Page 2 is the fill-in form, with numbered items 1 through 15.
The articles cover:
- the association name, purpose and term of existence;
- the principal office and the registered agent in the District of Columbia;
- the initial directors;
- whether the association is organized with or without shares, and the related capital and membership rules;
- the limit on capital any member may own or control;
- how surplus is distributed on dissolution, in line with § 29-934;
- the people who hold an interest in or control the association;
- the incorporators, who sign and date the form.
A filing fee applies; the form refers you to the Corporate Fee Schedule posted online rather than printing an amount. The form is a set of articles of incorporation. It does not describe itself as any other kind of filing.
Who needs to file DGCA-1?
Incorporators who want to form a Domestic General Cooperative Association in the District of Columbia file Form DGCA-1 with the DLCP Corporations Division.
The instruction sheet says any 5 or more natural persons, or 2 or more associations, can act as incorporators. Each incorporator must sign and date the articles. The preamble printed on page 2 reads "Three or more persons", so if your group is smaller than five people, confirm the requirement with the Corporations Division at (202) 442-4432 before filing.
The form also asks for information about other people:
- the initial directors who will manage the association for the first year;
- a registered agent with a name and address in the District of Columbia;
- each member or officer whose direct or indirect, legal or beneficial interest in governance or in total distributions exceeds 10 percent, and each person at or below 10 percent who controls financial or operational decisions or can direct day-to-day operations.
Use this form only for this entity type. The form is not for associations that already exist.
When to file DGCA-1
File Form DGCA-1 when the incorporators are ready to establish the new Domestic General Cooperative Association, because filing the articles is what creates it in the District of Columbia. The form prints no due date or expiration of its own.
Before you file, settle the entries that cannot be left open: the association name with the required words, the registered agent, the initial directors and every incorporator's signature and date. A filing fee applies at the time of filing; see the Corporate Fee Schedule posted online. For questions about timing, call the Corporations Division at (202) 442-4432.
How to fill out DGCA-1
Decide between drafting or using page 2
The instruction sheet says you can draft your own articles using its list of required information, or use the Articles of Incorporation on page 2. These steps follow the page 2 items.
Enter the association name
Item 1: write the association name. It must contain the words "cooperative association", with the abbreviations the instruction sheet allows for "Cooperative" and "Association".
State the purpose and term
Item 2: state the purpose or purposes for which the association is formed. Item 3: state the term of existence, which may be perpetual.
Give the office and registered agent
Item 4: enter the location and address of the principal office. Item 5: enter the registered agent's name and address in the District of Columbia.
List the initial directors
Item 6: enter the name and address of each director who will manage the affairs of the association for the first year, unless sooner changed by the members.
Say whether there are shares
Item 7: state whether the association is organized with or without shares and the number of shares or memberships subscribed for. If with shares, answer items 8 and 9 (authorized capital, share types, par value, rights, and the minimum shares needed for membership).
Answer the property rights item
Item 10: state whether members' property rights are equal or unequal, and if unequal, the rule that determines them. The instruction sheet applies this item to associations organized without shares, while page 2 prints a heading that says "with shares"; confirm with the Corporations Division if unsure.
Set capital limits and surplus rules
Item 11: give the maximum amount or percentage of capital any member may own or control, and say whether each member is limited to a single share and whether single shares have various par values. Item 12: describe how surplus is distributed on dissolution, in line with § 29-934.
Identify owners and controlling persons
Item 13: enter the names and addresses of each member and officer with interest or control over the association. The instruction sheet asks for residence and business addresses of people above 10 percent, and of those at or below 10 percent who control decisions or direct day-to-day operations.
Add incorporators and signatures
Items 14 and 15: enter each incorporator's name and address, and have each sign and date in 14A and 15A. The instruction sheet says 5 or more natural persons or 2 or more associations can act as incorporators.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check each numbered item and all signatures and dates. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and file it through one of the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit DGCA-1
You can file Form DGCA-1 online through CorpOnline or by mail to the Corporations Division.
- Online: go to https://corponline.dlcp.dc.gov and sign in with Access DC. The form states that many corporate filings are available online and that online filings are paid by credit card.
- By mail: send all forms and the required payment to Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division, PO Box 712300, Philadelphia, PA 19171-2300.
- Phone: the Corporations Division can be reached at (202) 442-4432.
A filing fee applies. The form does not print the amount; it refers you to the Corporate Fee Schedule posted online. Make sure every incorporator has signed and dated before you submit. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a name without the words "cooperative association"; "Cooperative" may be shortened to "Co-op" or "Coop" and "Association" to "Assoc.", "Assoc", "Assn." or "Assn".
- Giving a registered agent address outside the District of Columbia; item 5 asks for the agent's name and address in the District of Columbia.
- Skipping item 13, or listing only owners above 10 percent and leaving out a person at or below 10 percent who controls financial or operational decisions or directs day-to-day operations.
- Filing with too few incorporators; the instruction sheet says 5 or more natural persons or 2 or more associations, while page 2 says three or more persons.
- Submitting without every incorporator's signature and date in items 14A and 15A.
- Answering items 8 and 9 for an association organized without shares, or skipping them for one organized with shares.
- Sending the paper filing to a street address instead of PO Box 712300, Philadelphia, PA 19171-2300, or sending it with no payment.
- Treating the signature lightly: the form warns that anyone who makes a false statement can face criminal penalties under DCOC § 22-2405.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form DGCA-1?
Form DGCA-1 is the Articles of Incorporation for Domestic General Cooperative Association, issued by the DLCP Corporations Division. Filing it establishes a new general cooperative association in the District of Columbia under § 29–906 and § 29-102.01 of the D.C. Code.
Is Form DGCA-1 a DC business license?
No. Form DGCA-1 is articles of incorporation that establish the cooperative association; the form does not describe itself as a license. For any license or permit question, contact DLCP, and the Corporations Division answers filing questions at (202) 442-4432.
Can I fill out Form DGCA-1 online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of DLCP and does not file anything. To file, use DLCP's CorpOnline site with Access DC, or mail the form to the Corporations Division.
How many incorporators does a DC cooperative association need?
The instruction sheet says any 5 or more natural persons or 2 or more associations can act as incorporators, and each must sign and date. Page 2 prints "Three or more persons", so confirm with the Corporations Division at (202) 442-4432 if you have fewer than five.
Where do I mail Form DGCA-1?
Mail all forms and required payment to Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division, PO Box 712300, Philadelphia, PA 19171-2300. The form also points to the CorpOnline site at https://corponline.dlcp.dc.gov for online filing.
Is there a fee to file Form DGCA-1?
Yes, a filing fee applies. The form does not print the amount; it refers you to the Corporate Fee Schedule posted online. Online filings are paid by credit card. Call the Corporations Division at (202) 442-4432 with questions about payment.
What must the association name include?
The name must contain the words "cooperative association". "Cooperative" may be written "Co-op" or "Coop", and "Association" may be written "Assoc.", "Assoc", "Assn." or "Assn".
Who has to be listed in item 13 of Form DGCA-1?
Each member and officer whose direct or indirect, legal or beneficial interest in governance or total distributions exceeds 10 percent. Also each one at or below 10 percent who controls financial or operational decisions or can direct day-to-day operations.
Ready to fill out DGCA-1?
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