A Delaware Certificate of Good Standing is a state-issued document that certifies your business is legally registered with the state, has no outstanding registration fees or state taxes, and is current on all required state filings.
On this page, we’ll answer the following questions:
- What is a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
- Why would I need a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
- How do I get a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
- How long does it take to get a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
- Does a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing expire?
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What is a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
A Delaware Certificate of Good Standing (sometimes called a Certificate of Status or Existence) verifies your LLC or corporation is in compliance or “good standing” with the state. In other words, a Certificate of Good Standing is a document (issued by the state) that demonstrates your business has no outstanding fees, taxes, or other required business filings.
Most states (including Delaware) offer two types of Certificates of Good Standing:
- Short form: Includes the name of the business and current status.
- Long form: Includes the name of your business, current status, all state documents that have been filed (including dates and times), and any business name changes (if applicable).
Why would I need a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
You won’t need a Certificate of Good Standing for most day-to-day operations. However, there will likely come a time in your business journey when you’ll need to get a Certificate of Good Standing.
Here’s a list of common reasons you may need a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing:
- Expanding into another state: If you plan on expanding (or foreign registering) your business in another state, you’ll likely need a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state–in this case, Delaware. For example, if you register as a foreign entity in Florida or New Jersey, you must file a Certificate of Good Standing along with the state forms.
- Applying for a business loan: It’s not uncommon for banks to require a Certificate of Good Standing to apply for a business loan. Basically, some banks want assurance that your business is current with state fees and filings before lending your LLC or corporation money.
- Buying business insurance: Depending on your insurance company, you may be asked to provide a Certificate of Good Standing along with your initial formation documents.
- Selling your business: Before you can accept that big offer to buy your company, the purchaser will want to know that your business is currently in good standing–meaning, the buyer will likely want a Certificate of Good Standing before writing you a check.
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How do I get a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
To obtain a Certificate of Good Standing, you must file a Certification Request Memo. The filing fee is $50 for short forms and $175 for long forms. Here’s a complete list of everything you’ll need to include:
- Name of the person or business filing the request.
- Return mailing address.
- Depository account number (if applicable). If you don’t have a Depository account, you can leave this blank.
- Legal name of your business.
- File number. If you don’t have a file number, you can leave this blank.
- Type of Certificate: Indicate the Certificate of Good Standing you request (Short or Long Form).
You can file the Certification Request Memo by mail or online.
Mail:
Delaware Division of Corporations
401 Federal Street – Suite 4
Dover, DE 19901
Online:
You can upload completed memos to the Delaware eCorp Business Services.
Need a Certificate of Good Standing for your Delaware business? Sign up for our local registered agent service for just $29 a year! Once your order is complete, you can easily add Certificate of Good Standing service inside your client account.
Already a client? You can select Certificate of Good Standing service inside your secure account for just $100 plus state fees!
How long does it take to get a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
Standard processing times vary (1-3 weeks) depending on the current workflow and season. Need expedited service? You can pay an additional fee for faster turnaround:
- Same day: $50 (short form) or $80 (long form)
- 24 hours: $40 (short form) or $60 (long form)
- Two hours: $500
- One hour: $1000
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Does a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing expire?
It depends. For example, if you register as a foreign entity in Maryland or New York, you must include a Certificate of Good Standing issued (at most) 60 days before registering. The same is true for many banks and insurance companies. Why? Because a company’s status can change quickly, providing the most up-to-date information is essential.