Corporate documents
Certificate of good standing.
The state's signed and sealed confirmation that your company exists, is current on its obligations, and is allowed to do business. Required by banks, courts, foreign governments, and any party that wants proof you are who you say you are.
What it is.
The Certificate of Good Standing, sometimes called the Certificate of Status or Certificate of Existence, is the document a US state issues to confirm that a registered company is actively recognized and current on its obligations.
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When you will need it.
The certificate is requested whenever an outside party needs proof that the company is real and current.
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How we deliver.
We confirm the company is current on its filings, request the certificate from the Secretary of State, and deliver it to you.
Discover moreWhat it is.
The Certificate of Good Standing, sometimes called the Certificate of Status or Certificate of Existence, is the document a US state issues to confirm that a registered company is actively recognized and current on its obligations.
Beyond confirming that the LLC or Corporation exists, the certificate also confirms it is authorized to conduct business under its registered name. The seal and signature of the Secretary of State are what give it weight.
It is one of the few documents in US corporate life that comes directly from the state, not from your accountant or lawyer. That is precisely why third parties trust it.
When you will need it.
The certificate is requested whenever an outside party needs proof that the company is real and current. The most common situations:
- Opening a US business bank account
- Applying for a loan, line of credit, or credit card in the company name
- Registering the company to do business in another state
- Bidding on government contracts or applying for licenses
- Selling the company or bringing in new investors
- Presenting the company in a foreign jurisdiction (often paired with an apostille)
If the request is for international use, the certificate is typically apostilled. We handle that step too.
How we deliver.
We confirm the company is current on its filings, request the certificate from the Secretary of State, and deliver it to you. The only document we need to begin is your formation paperwork; we already know how to talk to every state.
If your company is not fully current, we tell you exactly what is missing and resolve it first. Issuing the certificate over an unfiled annual report just delays the request and burns time.
Details
What's included
- State filings review
- Resolution of outstanding obligations (if any)
- Direct request to the Secretary of State
- Digital and original certified copy
- Optional apostille for international use
- Available in all 50 states
Questions
Frequently asked
What gives the certificate its validity?
The certificate carries the seal and signature of the Secretary of State of the issuing state. That seal and signature are what every other entity, bank, court, foreign government, accepts as proof of validity.
What happens if my company is not up to date?
If the company is not current on its state obligations (annual reports, fees, taxes), the state will not issue the certificate. We can review your file and resolve outstanding items first if that is the case.
How long is the certificate valid?
Most US states do not put an expiration date on the certificate itself, but the entity requesting it usually expects a recent issuance. A common rule of thumb is that the certificate should be no more than 60 to 90 days old when presented.
How long does it take to receive?
Issuance time varies by state. Most states deliver within 1 to 3 business days once the request is filed. A handful of states are slower and may take up to 2 weeks.
Can the certificate be apostilled for use abroad?
Yes. We routinely pair the certificate with our apostille service when the founder needs to present the company in a Hague Convention member country.
Ready when you are.
Tell us what you need. Our team takes it from there. Twenty-four years of doing exactly this.
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