Overview of Certificate of Good Standing
A letter of good standing confirms a business has complied with state rules such as registering an entity and paying taxes. States call this document a certificate of good standing, certificate of existence, or certificate of status.
Eligible Entities and Details
Entities eligible for this certificate include: Limited Liability Companies, Limited Partnerships, Corporations, Nonprofit Corporations, and Professional Corporations. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships cannot get a certificate as they are unincorporated.
Oregon specifically calls this certificate a “certificate of existence”. It certifies an Oregon business is in good legal standing to enter contracts.
Purpose and Benefits
A Certificate of Good Standing confirms that a company is incorporated and approved to conduct business in certain countries or states. In some nations, it may be referred to as a Certificate of Authorization or Certificate of Existence.
Information Shown on a Certificate
The following information will be displayed on a certificate of good standing:
- The date of incorporation.
- The names of all company directors.
- The name of the company secretary (if applicable).
- The registered office address.
- Company objects (if applicable).
- Verification that the company is up to date with filing requirements.