Useful Information
Plain-language guidance on incorporating in Canada, keeping a federal or provincial corporation compliant, choosing the right corporate document and getting documents certified for use abroad.
- Company Search11 min read
Using Canadian Corporate Documents to Verify Parent–Subsidiary Relationships
Verifying a parent–subsidiary relationship involves connecting company identity, recorded shareholdings, corporate history and financial reporting. This article explains how to use Canadian corporate documents to build a clear, dated account of a corporate group and select relevant documents through the Canadian Trade Registry.
Read guidance - Company Search12 min read
Canadian Corporate Documents for Commercial Lease Due Diligence
Corporate documents help organize commercial lease due diligence around company identity, governance, transaction approval and financial assessment. This guide explains how documents available through the Canadian Trade Registry can support the review of corporate tenants, landlords and guarantors, with jurisdiction-specific examples and guidance on matching documents to their purpose.
Read guidance - Company Search11 min read
Canadian Corporate Documents for Merger and Acquisition Due Diligence
Canadian corporate documents support acquisition due diligence by organizing evidence about company identity, corporate history, ownership, governance and financial position. This article explains how different document types contribute to a transaction file, how federal amalgamation and merger-review considerations fit into the review, and how documents available through the Canadian Trade Registry can support closing and cross-border use.
Read guidance - Company Search11 min read
Canadian Corporate Documents for Business Bank Account Opening
Corporate documents help organize the company identity, management, ownership and authorization information relevant to a business banking relationship. This guide explains how to select documents available through the Canadian Trade Registry by their purpose, including company records, corporate resolutions and certified copies.
Read guidance - Company Search11 min read
Canadian Articles of Incorporation: Understanding Share Classes for Corporate Due Diligence
Articles of incorporation explain a corporation’s authorized share structure and the provisions attached to its share classes. For corporate due diligence, they provide the framework for interpreting ownership records, comparing shareholder rights and understanding structural changes. This article explains the federal Canadian framework and how related documents available through the Canadian Trade Registry support a connected review.
Read guidance - Company Search12 min read
Certified True Copies of Canadian Corporate Documents for Cross-Border Transactions
Certified true copies give Canadian corporate records a formally certified form for transaction files and institutional review. This article explains how certification relates to the underlying document, how federal and provincial context affects document selection, and where authentication, apostilles and legalization fit into cross-border use.
Read guidance - Company Search12 min read
Canadian Shareholder Registers and Share Certificates: Documenting Corporate Ownership
A shareholder register presents a corporation’s recorded shareholdings, while a share certificate documents a particular holding. Understanding their different purposes helps you select ownership documents for transactions, corporate records and due diligence through the Canadian Trade Registry.
Read guidance - Company Search12 min read
Using Canadian Corporate Change Histories for Due Diligence
A corporate change history adds a time dimension to company due diligence. It helps reviewers connect earlier and current company details, examine changes in context, and organize supporting documents. This article explains how to use historical information alongside current corporate records and select complementary documents through the Canadian Trade Registry.
Read guidance - Company Registration12 min read
Federal vs Provincial Incorporation: Understanding Canadian Company Records
Canadian companies can incorporate federally or under provincial or territorial legislation. Understanding the distinction helps you interpret their registration details, corporate history and governance records. This guide explains how documents available through the Canadian Trade Registry support a clear, jurisdiction-aware review of a Canadian company.
Read guidance - Corporate Documents12 min read
Which Canadian Corporate Document Do You Actually Need?
Choose a Canadian corporate document by the question it answers: company identity, corporate history, directors and authority, ownership, financial position, or a recorded decision. This guide compares the documents available through the Canadian Trade Registry and explains where certification fits.
Read guidance - Legislation12 min read
Apostille in Canada: What Changed and What It Means for Your Corporate Documents
Canada’s Apostille Convention membership took effect on January 11, 2024, simplifying the authentication of Canadian public documents for use in other Convention countries. For businesses, the change provides an apostille route for government-issued corporate records and notarized documents, with responsibility shared between federal and provincial authorities. The Canadian Trade Registry offers corporate documents and an apostille service for international document needs.
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