NCSB Journal Summer 2026

lowing conditions: (1) Renewal of Certificate of Registration for Professional Corporation - All renewal applications must be completed online through the responsible attorney’s member portal. Th e renewal application must in clude the names and addresses of all of the shareholders and employees of the corpo ration who practice law in North Carolina on behalf of the professional corporation, the name and address of at least one o ffi cer and one director of the professional cor poration, and certify that all such persons are duly licensed to practice law in the state of North Carolina. Th e responsible attorney shall further certify that the cor poration has complied with these regula tions and the provisions of the Profes sional Corporation Act. Such application shall also: (A) set forth the name, address, and license information of each shareholder who is not licensed to practice law in North Carolina, but who performs serv ices on behalf of the corporation in another jurisdiction in which the corpo ration maintains an o ffi ce; and (B) certify that all such persons are duly licensed to practice law in the appropri ate jurisdiction. Upon a finding by the secretary that all shareholders are active members in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar, the secretary shall renew the certificate of registra tion or recommend conversion to an Interstate/International Law Firm; (2) Renewal of Certificate of Registration for a Professional Limited Liability Com pany - All renewal applications must be completed online through the responsible attorney’s member portal. Th e renewal application must include the names and addresses of all of the members and em ployees of the professional limited liability company who practice law in North Car olina on behalf of the professional limited liability company, the name and address of at least one manager, and certify that all such persons are duly licensed to prac tice law in the state of North Carolina. Th e responsible attorney must further cer tify that the professional limited liability company has complied with these regula tions and the provisions of the North Car olina Limited Liability Company Act. Such application shall also: (A) set forth the name, address, and

license information of each member who is not licensed to practice law in North Carolina but who performs services on behalf of the professional limited liability company in another jurisdiction in which the professional limited liability company maintains an o ffi ce; and (B) certify that all such persons are duly licensed to practice law in the appropri ate jurisdiction. Upon a finding by the secretary that all members are active members in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar, the secretary shall renew the certificate of registration or recommend conversion to an Interstate/International Law Firm; (3) Renewal Fee - Th e fee to renew a cer tificate of registration for either a profes sional corporation or a professional limit ed liability company is $25; (4) Refund of Renewal Fee - If the secre tary is unable to make the findings required by Subparagraphs (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this Rule, the secretary shall refund the $25 renewal fee; (5) Failure to Apply for Renewal of Certificate of Registration - In the event a professional corporation or a professional limited liability company fails to com plete the online renewal process and pay the renewal fee within 30 days following the expiration date of its certificate of reg istration, the certificate of registration for the delinquent professional corporation or professional limited liability company shall be suspended and the secretary of state will be notified of the suspension of said certificate of registration; (6) Reinstatement of Suspended Certificate of Registration - A certificate of registration may be renewed online through the end of the calendar year in which it was suspended. To reinstate a certificate in a subsequent year, a profes sional corporation or a professional lim ited liability company must complete a reinstatement application. Upon receipt of a completed application for reinstate ment, together with the required rein statement fee and any outstanding renewal and late fees, the secretary shall reinstate the suspended certificate by updating the records of the State Bar and providing notice of the reinstatement to the secretary of state; and (7) Inactive Status Pending Dissolution -

If a professional corporation or profes sional limited liability company notifies the State Bar in writing that the organiza tion is no longer practicing law and is winding down the operations and finan cial activities of the organization, no renewal fee or late fee shall be owed and the organization shall be moved to inac tive status for a period of not more than one year. If, at the end of that period, a copy of the articles of dissolution has not been filed with the State Bar, the secretary of the State Bar shall suspend the organi zation as set forth in Subparagraph (g)(5) of this Rule. (h) Non-Profit Corporations O ff eringLe gal Services – Non-profit corporations that provide indigent legal services and maintain tax-exempt status under 26 U.S.C. §501(c)(3) are not required to register with the North Carolina State Bar. (i) Domestic Limited Liability Partnerships – Limited Liability Partnerships formed under North Carolina law and engaged in the pro vision of legal services within the state are not required to register with the North Carolina StateBar. Rule .0104, Management and Financial Matters (a) ... (g) “Transfer of Stock of Professional Corporation” When stock of a professional corporation is transferred to a licensee, the professional corporation shall request that the secretary issue a stock transfer certificate (Form PC-5; see Rule .0106(e) of this sub chapter) as required by G.S. 55B-6. Th e sec retary is authorized to issue the certificate which shall be permanently attached to the stub of the transferee’s stock certificate in the stock register of the professional corporation. Th e fee for such certificate shall be in an amount determined by the council and shall be charged for each transferee listed on the stock transfer certificate. ...

Rule .0106, Forms RESERVED

Rule .0201, Registration Requirement No law firm or professional organization that (1) maintains o ffi ces in North Carolina and one or more other jurisdictions, (2) has a systemic and continuous presence in

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THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR JOURNAL