33-3-202. Articles of incorporation -- filing and approval. (1) The incorporators of a proposed domestic insurer shall deliver the triplicate originals of the articles of incorporation to the commissioner. The commissioner shall examine the proposed articles of incorporation. If the commissioner finds that the articles comply with this chapter and are not in conflict with the constitution and laws of the United States or of this state, the commissioner shall approve in writing each set of the articles. However, if the commissioner finds that the proposed insurer would not be eligible for a certificate of authority under 33-2-112, the commissioner shall refuse to approve the articles of incorporation and shall return them to the proposed incorporators, together with a written statement of the reasons for the refusal. The commissioner shall forward the approved articles of incorporation to the incorporators. The incorporators shall subsequently file one set of the articles of incorporation with the secretary of state and one set certified by the secretary of state with the commissioner. The remaining set of articles must be made a part of the corporation's record.
(2) If the commissioner finds that the proposed articles of incorporation do not comply with law, the commissioner shall refuse to approve the proposed articles of incorporation and shall return all sets of the proposed articles of incorporation to the proposed incorporators, together with a written statement of the reasons for the refusal.
(3) The corporation has legal existence as a corporation upon the issuance of the certificate of incorporation by the secretary of state and completion of the filing with the commissioner required in subsection (1), but the corporation may not transact business as an insurer until it has qualified for and received from the commissioner a certificate of authority as provided in this title.
(4) A copy of the certificate of incorporation, certified by the secretary of state, is admissible in all the courts of this state as prima facie evidence of proper incorporation.