Skip to Main Content

Transactional Drafting: Tools and Forms

State Business Forms

Each state will have a myriad of forms for creating and operating a business in that state.  The Secretary of State (or Lieutenant Governor in some states) will generally have a website devoted to business on their websites.  Forms for that state can often be found there.  Examples for several states are below.  Secretary of State websites for business are also a great place to file certain forms required by the state for various business functions along with fee schedules.  There is also usually a company lookup feature and guides. image of paperwork

Databases of Forms

Westlaw Lexis and Bloomberg all have forms available as well as sample clauses and language. Depending on which forms or sample language you are looking form you should begin with practice area, narrow to jurisdiction and then forms.  Westlaw Practical Law will have checklists and more standard forms.  Lexis likewise has a Practical Law section where toolkits and checklists are available.

Bloomberg's data bank of forms, sample language and toolkits is per perhaps the most in-depth.  They have a transactional drafting library which can be accessed on its own but there are also subject specific resources that can be accessed through the respective practice area.

Form books and CLE guides

There are also commercial sites that have some free content but also sell access to form templates.  Templates and document automation are useful for forms that you encounter over and over again.