The owner of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) may or may not be a public record, depending on the state in which the LLC is formed. While all members (owners) of an LLC are a part of the public records in some states, others only include the organizer’s name in the articles of organization, the certificate detailing basic information about the company.
In other words, states where the owner of an LLC isn’t a public record only list the person who filed the company with the state. However, note that the organizer is not always one of the owners – it can be the owner’s attorney, accountant, family member, or anyone the owner has authorized to file the LLC with the state.
That said, whether or not the owner of a Limited Liability Company public record depends on the state in which the LLC is formed. Below, you’ll learn the states where the owner of an LLC is public. We’ll also guide you in finding the owner of an LLC through public records in states where this information is available to the public.
States Where the Owner of an LLC Is Public Record
In the following states, the owner of an LLC is public record.
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
If an LLC is formed in any of these states, anyone can search the state’s online database or visit the relevant government offices to find out the owner of a Limited Liability Company.
Most states have an online business entity or registration search. You can search on these online databases to find the owner of an LLC.
However, compared to other means of finding the owner of an LLC, which we’ll cover in detail below, the available information may be limited.
States Where the Owner of an LLC Isn’t Public Record
The following states offer higher privacy protection for Limited Liability Company owners. The only public record about an LLC in these states is often the organizer’s name. Although the organizer may also be one of the owners, keep in mind that it isn’t always the case.
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
States With Specific Disclosure Laws
In select states, namely California and Maine, whether or not the owner of an LLC is public record can get tricky. Here’s a brief explanation of whether LLC owners in these states are public.
- California: LLCs in California must file a Statement of Information that includes the members of the company. The state doesn’t directly disclose the owners in the public records, but this document becomes accessible to the public, making LLC owners in California a public record.
- Maine: Not all LLC owners in Maine are public, but at least one member or manager must be disclosed in the certificate of formation, which becomes a public record. You can review this public document about the LLC to discover at least one of the owners.
How to Find the Owner of an LLC
In states where the owner of an LLC is public record, you can simply search the state’s database or visit government offices.
As mentioned, if your state has an online business entity or registration search, you can discover the owner of an LLC by searching for the company name. This is the easiest way to find the owner of a Limited Liability Company.
Additionally, you can do a comprehensive public record search on individuals through websites like Information.com. While states only list the names of the owners, these searches can provide more details about the owner of an LLC, such as liens, bankruptcies, and civil judgments. It can give you more information beyond who owns an LLC.
Summarizing LLC Ownership in Public Records
All in all, whether the owner of an LLC public record depends on the state. If the LLC in question is formed in one of these states, you can do a business entity or registration search to discover the owners. You also have the option to search for individuals and find out if they own an LLC through public record searches.
In states where the owner of an LLC isn’t public, check the public business or court filings. Despite these states not publicly disclosing the LLC owners, such legal documents might list the LLC’s owners, managers, and officers.
Aisha Noreen is an owner of a small business with more than 9 years of experience in the marketing industry. With the wisdom of an old soul, she always seeks innovation and mind-blowing ROI techniques. Her unique approach helped many small businesses thrive and she can surprise you in many ways as well. Believe it or not, her energy, passion, and creativity are contagious enough to transform your business and take it to another level.
