Editorial Policy
Last reviewed:This page describes how we produce content. It complements Methodology, which covers how we source and refresh state-specific data.
Use of LLM assistance
We disclose this clearly: drafts on StayOnFile are produced with the assistance of large language models. We do this because writing 1,500–2,500 words per state on a solo nights-and-weekends schedule is otherwise infeasible, and the alternative is fewer states or thinner pages — neither of which would be useful.
LLM assistance is restricted to drafting from human-supplied source material. The model does not browse, does not access third-party sites, and is not the final arbiter of any fact on the page.
What gets verified before publication
Every draft is reviewed by a human editor before publication. The review is not a copy-edit pass — it is a fact-by-fact verification against the cited sources. The editor confirms:
- Every fee, threshold, deadline, and date in the at-a-glance box matches the current text on the state’s official portal.
- Every URL in the page resolves to the page it claims to reference.
- Every claim about consequence (penalties, late fees, dissolution timelines, reinstatement requirements) is supported either by a statute citation or the state portal’s own description.
If any fact fails verification, the page is not published. We have rejected drafts at this stage; it is the most important step in the process.
What human editors do not do
We don’t add commentary on whether a state’s compliance regime is fair, easy, or worth complying with. The site is procedural reference material. We document what is required, by whom, by when, and what happens if you miss it.
We don’t give recommendations between specific registered agents, formation services, or attorneys, beyond a single comparison page that documents the options and their stated terms. Any preference we express is in the form of a disclosed affiliate relationship, not a clinical recommendation.
Voice and tone
StayOnFile writes in plain language. We translate legalese instead of repeating it. We treat readers as adults who can handle accurate information and who do not need to be reassured that compliance is “easy” — it usually isn’t, and pretending otherwise is patronizing.
We are confident on procedural facts (when something is due, what the fee is, what the official process looks like). We defer to the official source for edge cases, judgment calls, and anything that depends on the reader’s specific situation.
Corrections
When we publish a correction, we update the page, change the “Last reviewed” date, and add an entry to the changelog describing what changed and when. We do not silently revise pages.
To report an error, email info@stayonfile.com. See Methodology for how corrections are prioritized.
Affiliate relationships
Some pages contain affiliate links to registered-agent services and other tools we think are reasonable choices. When they do, we disclose the relationship inline near the link, and again on the Disclaimer page. We do not place affiliate links above the fold, and we never recommend a service we would not personally use.
Last reviewed: