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Series vs Master documents — which do I need?

Series LLCs exist under an OtoCo Master LLC (OtoCo DE LLC or OtoCo WY LLC). OtoCo Instant is that protected-series legal form. Banks sometimes ask which documents they need — yours or the Master's.

What your series has

  • No individual state-issued Certificate of Formation — series are protected under the Master without a separate state filing
  • Series Operating Agreement — executed at formation with your wallet as first Member
  • EIN letter — issued to your series legal name (when ordered)
  • Access in Files & Templates / https://compliance.otoco.io to documents labeled Certificate of Formation — for banking, Mercury uses the Master Certificate of Formation

Pasteable guide: Mercury Bank Documents.

What the Master has

  • Master Certificate of Formation and Master Operating Agreement — state-filed umbrella entity
  • For Mercury on Instant / protected series, the Certificate of Formation Mercury wants is the Master Certificate of Formation

When banks ask for docs

For Mercury / typical KYB on Instant:

  1. Master Certificate of Formation (UI label: Certificate of Formation)
  2. Series Operating Agreement
  3. EIN letter when issued
  4. Brief note if needed: "[Your LLC] is an OtoCo Instant protected series of OtoCo DE LLC under the Delaware Series LLC Act. It has no individual state-issued Certificate of Formation; the Master Certificate of Formation is attached."

Some other counterparties may still ask for Master OA or extra context — provide what they request.

Legal separateness

Each series is legally separate from the Master and from every other series. Debts of one series cannot reach another series's assets.

Next: Certificate of Formation · Mercury Bank Documents · Bank compliance documents

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