Certificate of Good Standing
A Certificate of Good Standing, also known as a “Certificate of Existence” or a “Certificate of Fact, confirms an entity is duly incorporated and authorized to transact business in a certain state or jurisdiction, and is issued by that state.
The Certificate signifies an entity is current with filing requirements of that jurisdiction’s secretary of state’s office, as well as being current with any corporate franchise taxes in that jurisdiction.
As well as obtaining a Certificate for your own records, the certificate may be required in a number of situations:
- Financial closings, by request of a lender
- When qualifying an entity in other states
- When opening a bank account
DCS can obtain Certificates of Good Standing from the Secretary of State in all 50 states, and the District of Columbia. With the Certificate you will have confirmation that your entity has satisfied its filing and franchise tax obligations.
Prices start from $50* depending on your business entity, call us today to find out more, 800-426-2327 or email dcs@lawdeb.com
*State fees will also apply.
FAQs
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What is a Certificate of Good Standing?
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A Certificate of Good Standing is a state-issued document that confirms that your entity exists and is compliant with state requirements, such as filing of annual reports and payment of franchise taxes. This is also referred to as a Certificate of Existence or a Certificate of Fact.
If you should have general questions regarding the Certificate of Good Standing, please do not hesitate to contact us at dcs@lawdeb.com, or by calling 800-426-2327.
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An entity is considered to be in Good Standing if it is up to date with all appropriate paperwork with the Secretary of State, and has paid all applicable franchise taxes.
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Without being in good standing it will become difficult to open bank accounts or obtain financing, or apply for business licenses or permits. Preserving good standing also protects the entity’s owners from personal liability for actions of the corporation or LLC.
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Maintain an entity’s good standing by being in compliance with the relevant state’s laws. This may include filing annual reports or payment of franchise taxes.
The DCS team can assist you to maintain your Good Standing, contact us today on 800-426-2327 or email dcs@lawdeb.com to find out more.
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Why is a Certificate of Good Standing needed?
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A Certificate of Good Standing may be required when registering an entity in another state, Foreign Qualification, or for a financial closing. This document will provide confirmation that the entity is in compliance with state requirements.
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What is the difference between a short form and long form Good Standing?
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A short form Good Standing is merely an overview of the entity’s information with the state. It will provide basic information such as the name, status and the Secretary of State’s seal. The date of incorporation for that entity may be shown. By contrast, a long form Good Standing will have detail of all documents filed for that entity, in addition to the details from the short form. The long form will be a history of the entity, though may take longer to obtain and be subject to higher state fees.
Contact our team for more details, 800-426-2327 or email dcs@lawdeb.com