Cost and Process of Acquiring a Certificate of Good Standing in Delaware
Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Options
The fee is $50.00 per certificate for a short form certificate of status or $175.00 for a Long Form certificate of Good Standing. If you’re a registered agent client, they will obtain for $100. You can also mail the request to:
Delaware Division of Corporations
401 Federal Street STE 4
Dover, DE 19901
where they will obtain the certificate for you for $150.
The Delaware Secretary of State’s Office issues a Certification of Good Standing where you can obtain one personally or order online. Processing time is between one hour and three weeks depending on fees for expedited filings. A certificate of status shows incorporation date, good standing status and tax status.
To get one, you must be registered with the state and remain compliant. It is usually valid for 30-60 days. The Secretary of State’s Dover office offers same-day in-person expedited processing.
Required Steps to Obtain the Certificate
Obtaining a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing involves several steps:
-
Get the Form.
Visit the Delaware Secretary of State and search for the form or application. -
Fill Out the Form.
Fill it out entirely and accurately, including all required business entity information. -
Submit the Form and Fee.
Submit the completed form to the SOS office along with the required filing fee.
The state of Delaware’s official document is the Certificate of Good Standing, also known as a Certificate of Existence. This certificate can confirm to various authorities, such as banks and regulatory bodies, that your business is in compliance with local requirements and can be ordered either online or by mail. If ordered online, you should receive your certificate in 3 to 4 days.
You can get a Certificate of Good Standing anywhere between a few hours to a few weeks, with faster turnaround times incurring higher fees.
How to Maintain Good Standing
The most important element of getting your certificate is knowing how to keep your LLC in good standing. Ensure that you have all proper licenses and permits, pay business taxes on time, and stay up to date with annual reporting.