Certificate of Good Standing: What is it and how to get one

What is A Certificate of Good Standing and How to Get One

A Certificate of Good Standing confirms that a business is active, paid its tax obligations, and complied with state regulations. To obtain a certificate of good standing, go to the state’s website and make a request.

By Brad Nakase, Attorney

Email | Call (800) 484-4610

Have a quick question? We answered nearly 2000 FAQs.

Table of Contents

1. What is A Certificate of Good Standing and How to Get One

2. What is a Certificate of Good Standing?

3. What is a Certificate of Good Standing for an LLC?

4. What is the purpose of a certificate of standing?

5. Where to get a Certificate of Good Standing?

6. Who issues a Certificate of Good Standing?

7. How much does a Certificate of Good Standing cost?

8. How to get a Certificate of Good Standing?

9. Links to every state’s Secretary of State online portal to get a certificate of good standing.

What is a Certificate of Good Standing?

A Certificate of Good Standing is sometimes called a certificate of existence or certificate of authorization. It is an official document issued by a state government or regulatory agency. The certificate verifies that a corporation or LLC is legally registered in the state and has complied with all filing requirements. The certificate also confirms that the company is authorized to do business in that state. A Certificate of Good Standing is often required when a business seeks to expand, obtain financing, or enter into specific contracts in other states or countries.

What is a Certificate of Good Standing for an LLC?

For a Limited Liability Company (LLC), a Certificate of Good Standing verifies that the LLC is legally formed, registered, and authorized to do business in the state. The Certificate of Good Standing for an LLC confirms that the LLC has complied with all of the taxes, regulatory, and statutory filing requirements. The Certificate of Good Standing includes basic information such as the LLC’s name, registration date, and confirmation of good standing with the state.

An LLC Certificate of Good Standing is often needed when the company is looking to:

Expand Operations: When the LLC company wants to do business in another state, the certificate confirms that the LLC complied with the laws in the state in which it was formed.
Secure Financing and Open Bank Account: When the company wants to open a bank account, the bank may require a Certificate of Good Standing from the LLC. Also, when the LLC wants to borrow money, the bank may want a Certificate of Good Standing for the LLC.

Getting a Certificate of Good Standing for an LLC is as simple as submitting a request to the Secretary of State or the relevant state agency where the LLC is registered.

What is the purpose of a certificate of standing?

A Certificate of Good Standing serves the following purposes:

Legal Compliance: A Certificate of Good Standing confirms that the company complies with all state regulations and tax obligations. The certification helps assure third parties that the company is legitimate and operating within the law.
Authorization to Operate: A Certificate of Good Standing confirms that the company is legally formed and authorized to conduct business within the state it was established. A Certificate of Good Standing is necessary for a company to expand to another state.
Financial Institutions: Many banks and financial institutions will request a Certificate of Good Standing before providing services or making loans.
Contracts: A Certificate of Good Standing is required for some contracts to confirm that the company can enter into the contract.

Where to get a Certificate of Good Standing?

To get a Certificate of Good Standing for a company that is an LLC, Corp, S Corp, or LLP, you need to contact the Secretary of State in the state where the company was formed. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get a Certificate of Good Standing:

Identify the State: Visit the Secretary of State’s website where the company was formed.
Requirements: Check the steps for requesting a Certificate of Good Standing. Be prepared to provide information such as the company’s name and entity number.
Submit the Request: Fill out the necessary form or application for the certificate.
Pay Fees: Nearly all states charge a fee for issuing a Certificate of Good Standing.

Remember, the process and requirements for getting a Certificate of Good Standing differ from state to state.

Who issues a Certificate of Good Standing?

The state’s Secretary of State’s office issues a Certificate of Good Standing. The Secretary of State keeps records of companies registered within the state. Most Secretary of State has an online portal to request a Certificate of Good Standing. The Secretary of State then reviews the company’s records to confirm that it has met all its filing requirements, paid all taxes, and complied with state laws. If everything is in order, the Secretary of State issues the Certificate of Good Standing.

How much does a Certificate of Good Standing cost?

The cost of a Certificate of Good Standing differs for each state and is generally $20 to $ 99. The price will increase if you want expedited processing or a certified copy. To find out the exact price for getting a Certificate of Good Standing, visit the Secretary of State’s website and look for its fee schedule.

How to get a Certificate of Good Standing?

To obtain a Certificate of Good Standing for your company (corporation, LLC, LP, LLP), do the following steps:

Identify the State: You can get a Certificate of Good Standing from the state where the company was formed.
Necessary Information: You will need the company’s name and identification number to get a Certificate of Good Standing.
Go to the Secretary of State’s Website: Go to the Secretary of State’s online portal and search for the Certificate of Good Standing.
Fill Out the Application: Complete the application to get a Certificate of Good Standing.
Submit the Request: Follow the instructions provided by the Secretary of State to submit your request to get a Certificate of Good Standing.
Wait for Processing: The processing time to get a Certificate of Good Standing differs for each state. Some states offer expedited services for an additional fee if you urgently need the Certificate of Good Standing.
Receive the Certificate: Once your request is processed, you’ll receive the Certificate of Good Standing. It might be available for download online or sent by mail.

Links to every state’s Secretary of State online portal to get a certificate of good standing.

Alabama

To access the online request, taxpayers can log on to the department’s Web site at www.revenue.alabama.gov, go the menu selection entitled “E-Services,” and click on “Certificates of Good Standing.” To submit a certificate request, taxpayers will simply follow the user-friendly prompts.

Alaska

Gather all necessary information before you begin online filing to get a certificate of good standing. The system may time out if there are long interruptions or delays, which will require starting over. Be aware that auto-fill features enabled in your web browser can cause incorrect data entry in your application. We recommend disabling auto-fill if this causes issues.

Arizona

A Certificate of Good Standing can be requested online through our eCorp system. Once logged in, simply navigate to the Online Services link and select Service Requests. Once there, you will find the option to request a Certificate of Good Standing. If you choose to process your request via “expedited” processing time, you will receive the Certificate of Good Standing immediately through your eCorp dashboard. If you choose to process your request via “regular” processing time, you will receive the Certificate of Good Standing within 15 business days, on average.

As an alternative, you can fax or mail your request and payment for a Certificate of Good Standing. Please find our Records Request Form here.

Arkansas

The Arkansas Corporation Certificate of Good Standing is an official document issued by the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office that certifies that a corporation or other business entity is in good standing with the state. The certificate confirms that the business entity has complied with all state requirements for registration and has paid all necessary fees and taxes. The Arkansas Corporation Certificate of Good Standing is often required by banks, lenders, and other organizations as a condition for obtaining loans or other types of financing.

It is also commonly used by businesses as proof of their good standing with the state, particularly when seeking to do business with other companies or government agencies. The certificate typically includes information such as the name of the business entity, its date of incorporation, and its current status with the state.

California

Certificates of Status (Online) - certificates of status are available within minutes online at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov. Certificate of Status certifies to the current status of an entity (e.g., active/good standing, suspended, dissolved, cancelled, etc.). If you need a certificate of good standing in California, please contact our California business attorneys for legal services for corporation and LLC.

Colorado

“Good Standing” status means that statutory filing requirements have been met with our office. However, this office does not review or verify information submitted in those filings. This office also does not regulate or investigate business practices or operations. To print a Certificate of Good Standing for any business entity in Good Standing:

Go to the Business Organizations page.
Search for the entity.
From the Summary page, select “Get a Certificate of Good Standing”.
The Certificate will open as a PDF image.
You may save the Certificate, or print in either black and white or color depending on the preference of who needs the Certificate.

If the status of the entity is anything other than Good Standing, a Certificate cannot be issued. If you have additional questions regarding the status of the entity, refer to the Noncompliance and Delinquency FAQs.

Connecticut

A Certificate of Legal Existence (called a Certificate of Good Standing in some states) verifies that a business entity is registered with our office and is up-to-date with the filing obligations of the Secretary of the State. It is often required by banks and other financial institutions in conjunction with closings and other financial transactions.

Delaware

You may order a Certificate of Status or Certificate of Good Standing by submitting a request in writing to the Division of Corporations. The fee is $50.00 per certificate for a short form certificate of status (includes the name of the entity and the status at the time the certificate is issued) or $175.00 for a Long Form certificate of Good Standing (states all documents that have been filed, including the dates and times and any name changes that occurred along with the status at the time the certificate is issued).

Florida

To order a Certificate of Status:

Review the information listed below.
Then select the “Order a Certificate of Status” button.
On the next page, enter your 6-digit or 12-digit document number.
Enter your email address.
Pay for your Certificate of Status.
Once your payment processes, we will email the Certificate of Status to you as a PDF file.

Georgia

A certificate of good standing in the State of Georgia is called a Certificate of Existence. You can order by mail, phone or online, but we recommend online. Online orders are immediate. Normal processing by mail takes up to 48 hours, plus additional time for mailing, and costs $10.

Hawaii

Search to find and learn more about a business. You can also purchase available documents such as a Certificate of Good Standing.

Idaho

A certificate of good standing includes the attorney’s name, current status, date of admission, whether or not admission was by examination or motion, and the date the attorney’s current status began. If you also need a copy of your discipline records, please see Bar Counsel’s Office for information on requesting discipline records. First, verify that you need a certificate of good standing from the Idaho State Bar. Some jurisdictions require certification from “the highest court where admitted” or “from the clerk of the court.”

If you need a certificate from the Idaho State Bar, please use the Online Request Form. If you need a certificate from the Idaho Supreme Court, visit the court’s website for information about ordering and cost. The cost is $10 for the first one and $2.50 for any additional certificates (for the same attorney on a single request). Please use the Online Request Form to submit your request and pay by credit card. You can also send a written request to the Licensing Department. Please include your name, Idaho State Bar membership number, the address where the certificate should be sent, and appropriate fee. Please make checks payable to the Idaho State Bar.

Illinois

A Certificate of Good Standing confirms compliance with the state of Illinois Business Services Department.

To purchase a Certificate of Good Standing Report:

Search the database to access a company’s File Detail Report.
Purchase the Certificate online: Corporation/LLC ($25); Not-for-Profit ($5).
Print the Certificate from the link on the receipt page or from the link on the purchased confirmation email.
Indiana

To obtain the Certificate of Existence or Good Standing

Go to: INBiz.in.gov

Click the “Order a Certificate of Existence” button found just below the picture of the woman.
Sign into INBiz or create an account.
Once you have successfully logged in, you will be navigated to the screen where you can order a Certificate of Existence.
Search and select the desired business record.
Pay for the Certificate of Existence.

Once the Certificate has been paid for, it will be emailed to you, but it may also be downloaded from the Documents widget found on your INBiz dashboard.

Iowa

To print a Certificate of Standing online, you must first search our database for the desired business entity. A link will be provided for you to print a Certificate of Standing if the business entity is eligible. This printed certificate contains a unique Certificate ID to verify validity.

You may search the Certificate ID to verify the validity of the certificate.

Kansas

To obtain a Certificate of Good Standing , first perform a business entity search on the company for which you need these documents.

When you view the search results you will see a button to order a Certificate of Good Standing. If you order online, you may pay the fee at the time of your order using a credit card, checking account, or Kansas.gov subscriber account. If you order online, you must provide an email address to receive an order confirmation from our office and you must print the certificate on your own printer.

If instead you would like to order the Certificate of Good Standing by phone or mail, you may call us at (785) 296-4564 and provide payment with credit card or mail us your request to the address above, with a check. This option has a higher fee than the online request.

Fees for a Certificate of Good Standing:
Online Request: $10
Paper Request: $15

Kentucky

Certificates of existence may be relied on as conclusive evidence that a domestic corporation or domestic limited liability company is in existence; certificates of authorization may be relied on as conclusive evidence that a foreign corporation or foreign limited liability company is authorized to transact business in Kentucky. Anyone may purchase a certificate of existence or authorization online or by mail/fax for a $10.00 fee.

Louisiana

The office of the Secretary of State also prepares certificates which reflect information filed of record with the office. The following is a list of the commonly requested certificates:

Certificate of Good Standing for corporations and limited liability companies;
Certificate of Existence for corporations, partnerships, trade names and limited liability companies;
Certificate of Registry for Partnerships; and
Certificate of No Record for corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies.

In addition, certificates issued with filings after July 15, 2005, such as certificates of incorporation, certificates of merger, trade name registration certificates, etc., may be reissued by the Secretary of State as a ‘duplicate’ certificate. The fee for a certificate is $20.

Maine

Certificates of Existence – Good Standing can be downloaded from the Interactive Corporate Services website.

Maryland

When one is obtaining a license, a license renewal or a loan settlement, the person is often required to obtain a “Certificate of Status” (generally called a “good standing” certificate) from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. On the specific date and time the Department issues a certificate verifying that a business entity is in “good standing,” it means that all documents and fees required by law to be submitted to the Department have been received, and that no other government agency has notified the Department that the entity is delinquent in tax payments.

Massachusetts

DOR recommends that individuals, businesses and other organizations obtain a Certificate of Good Standing with MassTaxConnect. It’s fast, easy and secure.

If you must apply by paper, select Request for a Certificate of Good Standing and/or Tax Compliance or Waiver of Corporate Tax Lien.
- Processing of a paper application can take 4 to 6 weeks. DOR strongly recommends filing your request online.
If approved, the Certificate of Good Standing will be mailed within 24-48 hours.
- Approved certificates can also printed through MassTaxConnect.
DOR does not charge a fee to obtain Certificate of Good Standing.
Michigan

A Third Party Administrator may request a Certificate of Good Standing or a duplicate Certificate of Authority.

Information regarding this process is available on the DIFS web page Document Requests-Certification Letter, Duplicate License, License History.

No payment is required for a Certificate of Good Standing / Duplicate Certificate of Authority.

Minnesota

A Certificate of Good Standing is a certificate that shows that a business entity is filed and currently active on the record to do business in the state from which it is issued; at the time of issuance. It can be ordered from the Business Filings Online page.

Mississippi

Certificates of Fact, Certificates of Good Standing/Existence or certified copies of any business filings may be ordered online. Go to Order Documents Online and login with your username and password. then select “Order Documents” at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions. Certificates and copies of most business filings will be available immediately upon payment.

Missouri

Order a Certificate of Good Standing from the Corporations Division. You can order online or contact the Corporations Division directly to place your order. Online certificates feature a verification number which allows anyone to confirm the authenticity of the certificate.

Montana

Certificates of Good Standing can be ordered from the Montana Secretary of State’s Business Services Division website.

Nebraska

Order Certificate of Good Standing to verify an entity’s existence in the state of Nebraska and copies of filed documents using the Corporate & Business Search page.

Nevada

To order online:
Click Here and select “Good Standing Certificate”

To order by mail:
Send a letter with the name of the entity for which you are requesting the certificate, along with a check, money order, or credit card authorization for $50.00 made payable to “Secretary of State” to:

Secretary of State Francisco V. Aguilar
401 North Carson Street
Carson City, Nevada 89701-4201

To order fax:
Fax a detailed request, along with credit card information to 775-684-5645.

The Secretary of State’s office accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card for all payments. Please note: For security and verification purposes, all credit card payments must include the 3 or 4-digit CVV2 code (VCode) number located on the back of your credit card. Failure to include this code will result in rejection of your filing or service request.

New Hampshire

Any New Hampshire attorney may obtain a certificate of good standing by mailing the request to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, One Charles Doe Drive, Concord, N.H. 03301. The request must contain the following information:

the attorney’s name
date of birth
N.H. Bar Association number
and the address where the certificate should be mailed

The fee for each certificate is $10.00. The check should be made payable to the State of New Hampshire and should accompany the request.

New Jersey

Standing certificates attest to the legal status of business entities such as corporations, and limited liability companies operating in New Jersey. These certificates are certified under the seal of the State Treasurer and serve as legal documents.

There are three types of standing certificates: short form standing, long form standing with officers and directors and long form standing with charter documents. The information provided on each document is designated in the Public Records Guide. All three types of standing certificates may now be obtained online. The ability to validate a certificate online is also available.

New Mexico

To obtain a Certificate of Good Standing, access the New Mexico Secretary of State website by selecting the CORPORATIONS AND BUSINESS SERVICES link. If you have not created an account, select Create User Account. NOTE: The account you create belongs to you, not the business. After you have created a login account, select Corporation from the top horizontal menu, and select Certificate of Good Standing from the pull down menu. Look up your business; and print the certificate.

New York

A Certificate of Status evidencing the existence of a corporation or other business entity (also referred to as a Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Existence) may be obtained by submitting a written request to the New York State Department of State, Division of Corporations, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231. For statutory provisions: Executive Law §96

North Carolina

A letter of good standing can be obtained from the Department by any type of entity that has all of its tax accounts in good compliance.

To submit the request, complete the Request for Letter of Good Standing Electronic Form.

If a request is sent via fax or mail, it must include the name of the business, or sole proprietor, the entity ID or NCDOR account number, and be signed by a current officer/partner of the entity.

North Dakota

A certificate of good standing may be requested online with a credit card payment through FirstStop, the Secretary of State’s online filing system, or upon written request or by phone if payment is made by check, cashier’s check, or money order payable to “Secretary of State.” A certificate of fact is not available through FirstStop, but can be obtained upon written request or by phone with payment by check, money order, credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express), or pre-authorized credit.

Written and phone requests may be made by:

Phone: 701-328-2900 (choose menu item 2, then option 6) or 800-352-0867 (choose menu item 2, then option 6)
Fax: 701-328-2992 addressed to the Business Services Unit
Email: sosbir@nd.gov
Mail:
Business Services Unit
Secretary of State
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500

Ohio

You can obtain a Certificate of Good Standing or a Full Force and Effect Certificate online from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.

Oklahoma

A Certificate of Good Standing is a certificate issued by the Secretary of State as evidence that your corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership is in good standing with the Secretary of State’s office.

Oregon

Complete a certificate request form for other certificates, or if your Certificate of Existence requires an Authentication/Apostille. These paper form requests, submitted by fax or mail, (not email), are processed in the order received, usually within 5-10 business days after receipt.

Pennsylvania

A certificate of subsistence (good standing) states when the corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company or limited liability partnership is still in existence as a matter of record in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

In addition to certifying copies of documents, this office also prepares certificates of subsistence (good standing) and certificates of due and diligent search. A certificate of due and diligent search certifies that all available records of the office have been searched and that a particular entity does not appear in our records. This office also creates certificates attesting that information on our records is true and correct. These certificates with the seal and signature of the Secretary of the Commonwealth are known as engrossed certificates. Certificates of non-existence for entities are also available. Consult the fee schedule for applicable fees.

Rhode Island

A Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Legal Existence (sometimes called a “certificate of status”) is issued by the RI Department of State to verify that a business entity is in good standing with our office. It does not verify that a business has satisfied its tax obligations and should not be confused with a Letter of Good Standing issued by the RI Division of Taxation.

South Carolina

In addition to allowing users to search entities on file with the Secretary of State, the Business Entities Online system allows users to obtain copies of corporate documents and certificates of existence. Users may order copies of specific documents or all documents on file for a particular entity. Certificates of Existence may be used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to opening a bank account or applying for a certificate of authority to do business in another state. The online system enables users to order a certificate of existence and other documents from home, the office, or on the go providing a quick and efficient means of obtaining documentation needed for time-sensitive matters.

For more general information on business filings, please visit the Business Entities page.

South Dakota

Anyone can request a Certificate of Good Standing/Existence for any business entity registered with the Secretary of State in South Dakota EXCEPT for General Partnerships, Reserved Names, Registered Names and Doing Business As (DBA)-Business Names.

What you will need to request a Certificate of Good Standing/Existence

Enter the Business ID of the business entity. If the Business ID is not known please use our search tool to find it.
Validate that the correct entity has been identified.
You may only file electronically. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express debit or credit cards.
Tennessee

Request a Certificate of Existence online and pay fee online. The filing fee is $20. An online service fee may be added to the filing fee.

Texas

Although the comptroller’s office no longer uses the term, “certificate of good standing” is sometimes used to refer to a certificate issued by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts regarding an entity’s franchise tax account status. The comptroller’s office now refers to these certificates as “certificates of account status.” Information about certificates of account status is available from the comptroller. You may contact the comptroller at (800) 252-1381 for assistance as well.

Certificates of account status are often confused with certificates of fact – status issued by the Secretary of State. A “certificate of fact – status” is a certificate issued by the Secretary of State that serves as official evidence of an entity’s existence or authority to transact business in Texas. A certificate of fact – status provides a statement of an entity’s status, as well as the entity’s current legal name and date of formation or registration.

Utah

You may view the Certificate of Existence by using the Utah Business Search page.

Vermont

Certificates of good standing may only be obtained for entities that file annual/biennial reports. For trade names & general or limited partnerships, please request a Certificates of Status.

To generate a Certificate of Good Standing or Status:

Login to our Online Business Service Center (new users must first create an account)
From the Online Services Dashboard select the appropriate document type
Follow prompts to obtain certificate & pay $25.00 filing fee by credit card or e-check

Certificates of Good Standing are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

Virginia

To prove the existence and compliance of your Virginia corporation or foreign corporation authorized to
transact business in Virginia, you can apply for a Certificate of Good Standing online with the Clerk’s Office.
This how-to guide will walk you through applying for a Certificate of Good Standing online in the new Clerk’s
Information System (CIS) https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/.

Washington

When a Foreign Entity registers with our office, a certificate of status is required and must be dated within 60 days of submission. For information on how to obtain this certificate and what it is called in your “home state” or “home jurisdiction”, please refer to the information in the table on the Certificate of Existence page.

West Virginia

A letter of good standing is requested by completing a GSR-01 form.

If you have a MyTaxes account, you may complete this form from your My Taxes account. The form is found under the “I Want To” section. This option allows the response to the Good Standing Request to be viewed and printed next business day following the completion of the account review.

If you are not currently registered for MyTaxes, you may register now by visiting our MyTaxes website, and then selecting the “Don’t have a logon? Register here” link. Please note: A GSR-01 request via a MyTaxes account offers the quickest turnaround time.

A second option is to complete the GSR-01 from our website. Please note that the response will be sent via US Mail to the address on file.

If you are authorizing a release of information to an unauthorized third party, this form must be notarized. Therefore, you must submit a GSR-01 by completing a paper version and submitting it via US Postal Service. Please note that, for all mail-in forms, the turnaround time is 2-3 weeks.

Wisconsin

If you wish to order a good standing certificate or certified copy of a document for a Wisconsin state-chartered bank or savings institution, you can email your request to DFIBankingRequests@dfi.wisconsin.gov. The fee is $10 for a good standing certificate and $10 for a certified copy plus $0.25 per page of the document attached to the certification.

Your request should include where and to whom the document and invoice should be sent, and a number to call for questions.

Wyoming

Certificates of Good Standing can be obtained from the Business Center website.

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