Who needs a Certificate of Good Standing?

General counsel, corporate paralegals, and corporate secretaries managing multi-entity portfolios commonly request Certificates of Good Standing. Common triggers include:

M&A due diligence: buyers and lenders require confirmation that target entities are compliant in every state of operation

Foreign qualification: expanding into a new state requires proof of good standing in the home state

Business banking: banks routinely request Certificates of Good Standing when opening accounts or approving credit lines

Licensing and permits: certain regulated industries require periodic good standing verification

Closing a business transaction: counterparties often require a certificate issued within the past 30–90 days

Why choose our Certificate of Good Standing services?

Handled on your behalf

When you request a Certificate of Good Standing with Corporate Creations, we’ll handle the entire process for you, from start to finish, so that you don’t need to lift a finger.

Fast and reliable

In many cases, an electronic Statement of Good Standing can be issued for your business within an hour. If you need to get a Good Standing Certificate online, and fast, we’re the obvious choice.

Multi-national reach

You can obtain Certificates of Good Standing in all U.S. states, as well as Canada, and foreign jurisdictions thanks to our global network of experts. By working with a team that understands the varying requirements across these different locations, you can ensure you remain compliant everywhere.

Dedicated customer support

You’ll enjoy a hands-on service with Corporate Creations; our team of global experts is always available to help you with any queries you may have. By working with us, you’ll have a partner you can rely on.

Certificate of Good Standing for LLC or corporation

Whether you require a Certificate of Good Standing for an LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, non-profit, business trust, professional or close corporation or foreign qualifications, Corporate Creations can help you with your document retrieval request. We can also assist with obtaining Certified Copies and Bring Down Certificates for any business so that you can authenticate the existence of your company or another entity.

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Get a Certificate of Good Standing in your chosen state

Select a state on the map or from the dropdown to access state-specific guidance on obtaining your Certificate of Good Standing.

Select a state from the dropdown to access state-specific guidance on obtaining your Certificate of Good Standing.

Certificate of Good Standing FAQs

A Certificate of Good Standing is an official document that verifies the existence of an entity in the state in which it was incorporated. It provides an up-to-date overview of the company's current standings, demonstrating whether or not it is able to do business in the state, and has been compliant with regulatory requirements such as filing annual reports.

There are various reasons you may need to get a Certificate of Good Standing – either for your own business or another. Some reasons include the following:

To show you’re able to do business in a specific state
Registering to conduct business out-of-state (Corporate Creations can assist with your foreign qualification)
During certain business transactions such as mergers and acquisitions
Taking care of licensing requirements
Buying/selling a company
Applying for a business loan or line or credit
Handling tax matters (it’s important to remember you can still be “in good standing” yet owe taxes to the state)

You can obtain a Certificate of Good Standing by submitting a request to the Secretary of State's office in the state where the entity is registered, along with the applicable state fee. Processing times vary by state. Some issue electronic certificates within hours, while others may take several business days. Many businesses and legal teams use a third-party retrieval service like Corporate Creations to manage requests across multiple states and jurisdictions, particularly when speed or volume is a factor.

In many U.S. states, Corporate Creations can retrieve an electronic Certificate of Good Standing within one hour of the request being placed. Turnaround time varies by state and whether a physical (certified) or electronic certificate is required. Our team will confirm expected timelines at the point of order.

The validity of a Good Standing Certificate varies by state but will usually be valid until your next required filing date. However, if a company is requesting evidence of your good standing in order to close a business transaction, they may require a certificate issued 30-90 days prior.

Yes. A Certificate of Good Standing is also known as a Certificate of Status or Certificate of Existence.

Certificate of Good Standing

Get a Good Standing Certificate online today

Who needs a Certificate of Good Standing?