A Certificate of Good Standing in Washington (also known as a Certificate of Existence) is a legal document that certifies the existence of your business in the state. You’ll likely need to obtain a Certificate of Existence at various points during your business lifecycle, which Corporate Creations can assist with.
What is a Certificate of Good Standing in Washington?
A Certificate of Good Standing in Washington legally attests to the existence of your business and indicates its compliance with all state requirements annual report filings. The certificate also proves that there are no administrative dissolution proceedings pending. The document will have the seal of Washington and the Secretary of State’s signature to prove its authenticity.
You can obtain a Certificate of Existence in Washington State for various business types, including LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships.
Why do I need a Certificate of Existence?
You’ll often need to provide a Certificate of Existence per the request of another business or to prove your business status (for example, that your business has not been dissolved). Alternatively, you may need information on a company that you don’t own and so can request a Certificate of Existence for another entity. Below are some of the most common reasons for obtaining this certificate in Washington:
- When selling your company or during mergers and acquisitions
- When applying for foreign qualification (to be able to carry out business in a state other than Washington)
- When applying for business licenses or any type of credit line
In most situations, you’ll need to ensure that the Certificate of Good Standing is no older than 30 days; however, some instances will allow for the certificate to be no more than 60 days old.
How to get a Certificate of Good Standing in Washington State?
Obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing in Washington is straightforward but requires some time and effort. You’ll need to visit the Office of the Secretary of State website and access the business search portal. Enter your business name or Unique Business Identifier (UBI) to locate your company. Once found, follow the steps to order and pay the document fee.
Although the process is simple, it can be time-consuming. Corporate Creations can handle the entire document retrieval process for you, from start to finish. Plus, if you need the certificate urgently, we can expedite the request to meet your timeline.
(561) 694-8107
Contact us
