What Is a Certificate of Good Standing and How to File It

If you have a registered business entity such as a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, you may at some point need to verify your business status, such as for a business loan.

A Certificate of Good Standing (also goes by the names of Certificate of Status and Certificate of Legal Existence), issued by the state, verifies that you are a legally registered entity, up to date on all filings and fees, and permitted to do business in your state.

You do not have to obtain one to do business. It is simply used to verify your status to third parties such as banks.

What Types of Business Entities Can Get a Certificate of Good Standing?

You must be a registered business entity. Operating as a sole proprietorship does not require registration with the state, so you would not be able to obtain a certificate of good standing. LLCs and corporations must be registered with the state, so they are able to obtain the certificate. 

In some states, partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships are required to be registered, so in those states, you could obtain a certificate of good standing for those entities.

Why Do I Need a Certificate of Good Standing?

You only need a certificate of good standing if another party requests one from you. This could occur if you are opening a bank account or applying for a loan. You might also need one to apply for a business credit card, or if you are setting up credit card processing for customer payments.

If you are registering as a foreign entity in another state, you will probably be asked for a certificate of good standing. 

A foreign entity is simply a business entity doing business in a state other than the one in which it’s registered. For example, if your business is registered in Alabama but you also do business in Georgia, you’ll need to register a foreign entity in Georgia.

If you have a business entity in your home state but do business in other states, you need to register as a foreign entity in all of the states where you do business. Each state has different rules defining what doing business in their state means. Check with the secretary of state in any states where you may be doing business to see if you qualify. Generally, you are doing business in another state if:

• You have a physical presence of any kind in that state 
• You have employees in that state
• You regularly meet with clients, managers, or investors in that state
• You are licensed to do business in that state

You also may be considered a foreign business if your business has a bank account or property in that state. However, if you are an online business in one state and happen to make a lot of sales in other states, you’re probably not considered a foreign business and thus not required to register a foreign entity.

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Your State

To obtain a certificate of good standing, you simply need to request one from your state. You can do this through the state department or agency where your business is registered. In most states, this is the secretary of state. You can usually fill out an online request form, and some states charge a small fee. You must be up to date on all filings and fees for the certificate to be issued.

Below, you will find guides on how to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing in all 50 states. This includes direct links to the respective governing bodies responsible for issuing these certificates, as well as information on the associated fees for each state.

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Alabama

In Alabama, the secretary of state issues certificates of existence. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $25 and you should receive your certificate via email in 3 to 4 days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Compliance in Alaska

In Alaska, the Department of Commerce issues certificates of compliance. Just go to the commerce department’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $10, and you should receive your certificate immediately via email. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Arizona

In Arizona, the Corporations Commission issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the corporation commission’s website and sign in to fill out the required form. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate within 15 days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Arkansas

In Arkansas, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $25 and you should receive your certificate within two weeks. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in California

In California, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. There is no fee for an online request for the certificate and you should receive your certificate immediately via email. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Colorado

In Colorado, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website, search for your business entity, and select “certificate of good standing” to obtain the required form. The cost is $0 when you make your request online and you should receive your certificate immediately via email. 

How to Get a Certificate of Legal Existence in Connecticut

In Connecticut, the business department issues certificates of legal existence. Just go to the business department’s website and log in to your account to fill out the required form. The cost is $50 and you should receive your certificate immediately via email. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Delaware

In Delaware, the Division of Corporations issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the corporation division’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $50 and you should receive your certificate in 3 to 4 days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Status in Florida

In Florida, the Department of State issues certificates of status. Just go to the department of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $5 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Georgia

In Georgia, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate immediately via email.   

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Hawaii

In Hawaii, the state department issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the state’s business portal to fill out the required form. The cost is $7.50 and you should receive your certificate immediately via email. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Idaho

In Idaho, the secretary of state issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate in 3 to 4 days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Illinois

In Illinois, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $25 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Indiana

In Indiana, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. Just go to the Indiana business portal to fill out the required form. The cost is $15 and you should receive your certificate immediately via email.  

How to Get a Certificate of Standing in Iowa

In Iowa, the Secretary of State issues certificates of standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $5 and you should receive your certificate immediately.  

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Kansas

In Kansas, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to search for your business and print the form. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate immediately.

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Kentucky

In Kentucky, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to search for your business and obtain the form. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Louisiana

In Louisiana, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to search for your business and obtain the form. The cost is $20 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Maine

In Maine, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. You’ll need to submit a written request for the certificate along with the fee. You can mail your request to the Bureau of Corporations, 101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-010. The cost is $30 and you should receive your certificate within 10 days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Status in Maryland

In Maryland, the Department of Assessments and Taxation issues certificates of status. Just go to the Maryland business portal to search for your business and obtain your certificate. The cost is $20 and you should receive your certificate immediately.

How to Get a Certificate of Legal Existence in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the Secretary of State issues certificates of legal existence. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $12 and you should receive your certificate within 48 hours. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Michigan

In Michigan, the Michigan Department of Licensing And Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the corporations’ online filing system website to search for your business and obtain the certificate. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate within five days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Minnesota

In Minnesota, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s business portal to search for your business and obtain the certificate. The cost is $15 and you should receive your certificate by email within one day. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Mississippi

In Mississippi, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to search for your business and order the form.  You’ll need to log in or create an account in order to obtain the certificate. The cost is $25 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Missouri

In Missouri, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to search for your business and obtain the certificate. You’ll need to log in or create one to place the order. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate immediately.  

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Montana

In Montana, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. Just go to the Business Services online portal and submit an online request. Note that you will need to create an account if you don’t already have one. The cost is $5 and you can download a copy of your certificate immediately after payment. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Nebraska

In Nebraska, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. You can request a copy online for $6.50 and instantly download your certificate upon payment. The cost to have a paper copy mailed to you is $10 and you should receive your certificate within four business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Nevada

In Nevada, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. You can request a copy online, by email, or mail. Note that to order copies online, you’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one. The cost is $50 and requests are processed in the order they are received. You can track processing times for copy requests here. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to search for your business and order the certificate. The cost is $5 and you should receive your certificate within 10 days. You can expedite the form for an additional $25 and receive the form in three to four days. 

How to Get a Standing Certificate in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services issues standing certificates. Just go to the business records website to order the certificate. The cost is $50 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in New Mexico

In New Mexico, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the Corporations and Business Services website and log into your online account. Note that you will need to create an online account if you don’t already have one. The cost is $25 and you will be able to download your certificate immediately following payment.

How to Get a Certificate of Status in New York

In New York, the Department of State issues certificates of status. To obtain one, you need to submit a written request to:

New York State Department of State 

Division of Corporations 

State Records and Uniform Commercial Code

99 Washington Avenue, 6th Floor

Albany, NY 12231

The cost is $25 and you should receive your certificate within 14 days. You can pay an additional $25 to have your request processed and mailed within 24 hours. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in North Carolina

In North Carolina, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. You can request a copy via phone by calling 919-814-5400 or online through your business services account. Note that you will need to create an online account if you don’t already have one. 

The cost is $10 plus $1 per page for online requests, after which you’ll be able to download your certificate immediately. Phone requests cost $15 plus $1 per page and you should receive your certificate within a week. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in North Dakota

In North Dakota, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. You can request a copy by calling the Business Services office at 701-328-4284 or by sending an email. The cost is $20. Orders are typically processed in 1-2 business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Ohio

In Ohio, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $5 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to Oklahoma’s business entities search page to look up your business and order your certificate. The cost is $20 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Oregon

In Oregon, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. Just go to the business registry certificates page to fill out the required form. You can submit it online or by mail. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate within three business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Subsistence in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, the department of state issues certificates of subsistence. Just log in to your PENN File account – or create one if you have not yet done so – then look up your business name and order the certificate. The cost is $40 and you should receive your certificate within five business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to Rhode Island’s corporate database to look up your business and request your certificate. The cost is $22 and you should receive your certificate within two business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in South Carolina

In South Carolina, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. Just go to their business search page to look up your business, log into your account, and request your certificate. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in South Dakota

In South Dakota, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the secretary of state’s website to fill out the required form. The cost is $20 and you should receive your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Tennessee

In Tennessee, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. Just go to their website to fill out the required form. Note that you’ll need your Secretary of State Control Number to look up your business. The cost for the certificate of existence is $20 and requests are typically processed within two business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Fact – Status in Texas

In Texas, the Secretary of State issues certificates of fact – status. You can order copies online or by phone, email, or mail. The cost is $15 and most orders are processed within three business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Utah

In Utah, the Department of Commerce issues certificates of existence. You can order copies online or by mailing in a request form. The cost is $12 and you should receive your certificate within 10 business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Vermont

In Vermont, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the Online Business Service Center to fill out the required form. Keep in mind that you will need to create an account if you don’t already have one. The cost is $25 and you should receive your certificate within 14 business days.

How to Get a Certificate of Fact of Existence in Virginia 

In Virginia, the State Corporate Commission issues certificates of fact of existence. Just go to the Clerk’s Information System website to fill out the required form. The cost is $6 and you can download your certificate immediately. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in Washington

In Washington, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. You can access and download a copy through the online portal website. 

NOTE: you will need to create an online account if you don’t already have one. You can also contact the Corporations and Charities Division and request a copy via phone, mail, or in-person. The cost is $20 and you should receive your certificate within two business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Existence in West Virginia

In West Virginia, the Secretary of State issues certificates of existence. Just go to their website to complete the process. NOTE: You will need to enter your entity name or order request number to access your certificate. The cost is $10 and you’ll be able to download your certificate immediately.

How to Get a Certificate of Status in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, the Department of Financial Institutions issues certificates of status. Just go to the website to fill out the required form. The cost is $10 and you should receive your certificate within 10 business days. 

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Wyoming

In Wyoming, the Secretary of State issues certificates of good standing. Just go to the Secretary of State Business Division website to fill out the required form. You can download your certificate immediately, free of charge. NOTE: You will need your business entity’s filing ID. 

You can also contact the Secretary of State Business Division office by phone or email, or request a copy in person. The cost for standard, non-online requests is $10 and you should receive your certificate within two business days.