Definition

What does certificate of good standing mean?

The home state's statement that the LLC is active and compliant, often required for foreign registration.

By the LLC Answered editorial team Answers updated November 13, 2026

Short form

Short reply

Also called: Certificate of status or certificate of existence
Related: Foreign registration followed by Annual report followed by Foreign LLC

The practical point

An LLC behind on its filings may be refused.

How it varies

Out-of-state LLCs must attach one in 36 states. 60 days is the common maximum age, used by 11 states.

Explore

Proof and sources

On record: Form 08-0497, Certificate of Registration, commerce.alaska.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.600 to, akleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.675 to, akleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Alaska Statutes, AS 10.50.750 to, akleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Alaska Statutes, AS 43.70.020 to, akleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Arizona Corporation Commission, LLC forms, azcc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form L025 instructions, azcc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Commission LLC fee schedule, azcc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: A.R.S. 29-3903, registration of foreign, azleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: A.R.S. 29-3905, activities that are, azleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Arizona Corporation Commission FAQs, azcc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Arkansas Secretary of State, foreign, sos.arkansas.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form FL-01, sos.arkansas.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Act 1041 of 2021, Uniform, arkleg.state.ar.us, current as of October 2026
On record: 2026 LLC franchise tax report, sos.arkansas.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form FL-04, application for cancellation, sos.arkansas.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: California Secretary of State, foreign, sos.ca.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form LLC-5, bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Corporations Code section 17708.03, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Revenue and Taxation Code section, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Franchise Tax Board, LLC filing, ftb.ca.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Foreign LLC forms and fees, business.ct.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Foreign Registration Statement form, business.ct.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Connecticut General Statutes, chapter 613a, cga.ct.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Foreign investigations penalties, business.ct.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Who can be an agent, business.ct.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Foreign annual report forms and, business.ct.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Foreign LLC registration form, corpfiles.delaware.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Delaware Code Title 6, chapter, delcode.delaware.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Delaware Code Title 6, chapter, delcode.delaware.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Division of Corporations fee schedule, corpfiles.delaware.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Alternative entity annual tax instructions, corp.delaware.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form CR2E027, foreign LLC application, form.sunbiz.org, current as of October 2026
On record: Florida Statutes 605.0902, certificate of, flsenate.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Florida Statutes 605.0905, activities that, flsenate.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Florida Statutes 605.0904, consequences of, flsenate.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form CR2E057, withdrawal, form.sunbiz.org, current as of October 2026
On record: Sunbiz LLC fees, dos.fl.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Hawaii DCCA, foreign LLC registration, cca.hawaii.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form FLLC-1, files.hawaii.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Foreign LLC filing fees, cca.hawaii.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Hawaii Revised Statutes 428-1003, activities, capitol.hawaii.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: New Hawaii business registration portal, cca.hawaii.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Idaho Secretary of State, Foreign, archive.sos.idaho.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Idaho Secretary of State, business, sos.idaho.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Idaho Code 30-21-505, activities that, legislature.idaho.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Idaho Code 30-21-214, fees, legislature.idaho.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Idaho Code 30-21-213, annual report, legislature.idaho.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Withdrawal of Foreign Registration Statement, archive.sos.idaho.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Illinois Secretary of State, LLC, ilsos.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form LLC-45.5, Application for Admission, ilsos.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form LLC-45.40, Application for Withdrawal, ilsos.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 805 ILCS 180/45-45, consequences of, ilga.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 805 ILCS 180/45-47, activities that, ilga.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Indiana Secretary of State business, in.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Indiana Code 23-0.5-5, registration of, iga.in.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Indiana Code 23-0.5-9, fees, iga.in.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Indiana Code 23-0.5-4, registered agents, iga.in.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: INBiz Business Entity Report, inbiz.in.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Iowa Secretary of State, business, sos.iowa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form, sos.iowa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement, legis.iowa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Iowa Code 489.905, activities that, legis.iowa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Iowa Code 489.212, biennial report, legis.iowa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Iowa Secretary of State, certificate, sos.iowa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Louisiana Secretary of State, forms, sos.la.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form 972, foreign LLC application, sos.la.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Fee schedule effective October 1, static.sos.la.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: R.S. 12:1345, application for authority, legis.la.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: R.S. 12:1354, effect of failing, legis.la.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: R.S. 12:1350, registered agent, legis.la.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Maine Secretary of State, foreign, maine.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form MLLC-12, maine.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 31 MRSA § 1622, foreign, legislature.maine.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 31 MRSA § 1623, activities, legislature.maine.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 31 MRSA § 1629, consequences, legislature.maine.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 31 MRSA § 1680, fees, legislature.maine.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Maryland Business Express, egov.maryland.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Business Express fee schedule, egov.maryland.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Corporations and Associations § 4A-1002, mgaleg.maryland.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Corporations and Associations § 4A-1009, mgaleg.maryland.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Corporations and Associations § 4A-1007, mgaleg.maryland.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Tax-Property § 11-101, annual report, mgaleg.maryland.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Massachusetts Corporations Division, foreign LLC, sec.state.ma.us, current as of October 2026
On record: Corporations Division fee schedule, sec.state.ma.us, current as of October 2026
On record: G.L. c. 156C § 48, malegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: G.L. c. 156C § 54, malegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: G.L. c. 156D § 15.01, malegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 950 CMR 112.00, limited liability, sec.state.ma.us, current as of October 2026
On record: LARA Corporations Division, michigan.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: LARA limited liability company forms, michigan.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: MCL 450.5002, certificate of authority, legislature.mi.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: MCL 450.5008, activities that are, legislature.mi.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: MCL 450.5007, consequences of transacting, legislature.mi.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: LARA annual reports and annual, michigan.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Mississippi Secretary of State, Business, sos.ms.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Business filing fee schedule, sos.ms.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Business FAQs, sos.ms.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Start Your Business in Mississippi, sos.ms.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Mississippi annual reports, sos.ms.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Registered agents, sos.ms.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations, sos.mo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form LLC 4, foreign LLC, sos.mo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Business filing fee schedule, sos.mo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: RSMo 347.153, registration of foreign, revisor.mo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: RSMo 347.163, transacting business and, revisor.mo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Missouri Department of Revenue, business, dor.mo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Nebraska Secretary of State, forms, sos.nebraska.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Application for Certificate of Authority, sos.nebraska.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Neb, nebraskalegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Neb, nebraskalegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Nebraska Secretary of State, annual, sos.nebraska.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: NJ Division of Revenue, Business, njportal.com, current as of October 2026
On record: NJ Division of Revenue, fee, nj.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Public Records Filing for New, nj.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: New Jersey Revised Uniform LLC, pub.njleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: NJ Annual Reports and Change, njportal.com, current as of October 2026
On record: New Mexico Secretary of State, sos.nm.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: SOS Enterprise online filing portal, enterprise.sos.nm.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Business Online Filing Help, api.realfile.rtsclients.com, current as of October 2026
On record: NMSA 1978, Chapter 53, nmonesource.com, current as of October 2026
On record: Taxation and Revenue Department, who, tax.newmexico.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Department of State, Application for, dos.ny.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: LLC Law § 802, application, nysenate.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: LLC Law § 808, consequences, nysenate.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Department of State, Certificate of, dos.ny.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Department of State, biennial statements, dos.ny.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: North Carolina Secretary of State, sosnc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form L-09, Application for Certificate, sosnc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Secretary of State guide to, sosnc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: G.S, ncleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Annual report due dates, sosnc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: North Dakota Secretary of State, sos.nd.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: NDCC Chapter 10-32.1, ndlegis.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Secretary of State, registered agents, sos.nd.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Secretary of State, business services, sos.nd.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Oklahoma Secretary of State, entity, sos.ok.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Procedures for registering a foreign, sos.ok.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Oklahoma Secretary of State, fee, sos.ok.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Annual certificate form for LLCs, sos.ok.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 18 O.S. § 2049, transacting, oscn.net, current as of October 2026
On record: Form 450, Application for Registration, docs.sos.ri.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Business Services fee schedule, docs.sos.ri.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: R.I, webserver.rilegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: R.I, webserver.rilegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form 452, Certificate of Cancellation, docs.sos.ri.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: South Carolina Business Entities Online, businessfilings.sc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: SC Secretary of State, business, sos.sc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: South Carolina Code, Title 33, scstatehouse.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: SC Department of Revenue, corporate, dor.sc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: South Dakota Secretary of State, sdsos.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Filing fee schedule, sdsos.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Foreign LLC application for Certificate, sdsos.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: SDCL 47-34A-1003, transacting business, sdlegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: SDCL 47-34A-1008, effect of not, sdlegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Tennessee Secretary of State, business, sos.tn.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form SS-4233, Certificate of Authority, sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, current as of October 2026
On record: Tennessee Secretary of State, business, sos.tn.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form SS-4241, withdrawal or cancellation, sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, current as of October 2026
On record: Tennessee Revised LLC Act, Public, publications.tnsosfiles.com, current as of October 2026
On record: Utah Division of Corporations, foreign, commerce.utah.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Division fee schedule, commerce.utah.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Utah Code Title 16, Chapter, le.utah.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Utah Code Title 16, Chapter, le.utah.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Utah Business Registration System, businessregistration.utah.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Vermont Secretary of State, foreign, sos.vermont.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Vermont Secretary of State, fees, sos.vermont.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 11 V.S.A. § 4112, application, legislature.vermont.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 11 V.S.A. § 4113, activities, legislature.vermont.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: 11 V.S.A. § 4033, annual, legislature.vermont.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: SCC, foreign limited liability company, scc.virginia.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: SCC, foreign business entities FAQ, scc.virginia.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: SCC, foreign registration checklist, scc.virginia.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Code of Virginia § 13.1-1052, law.lis.virginia.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Code of Virginia § 13.1-1059, law.lis.virginia.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Code of Virginia § 13.1-1057, law.lis.virginia.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Washington SOS, register a foreign, sos.wa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Washington SOS, fee schedules and, sos.wa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: RCW 23.95.520, activities that are, app.leg.wa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: RCW 23.95.505, consequences of not, app.leg.wa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: RCW 23.95.510, foreign registration statement, app.leg.wa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Washington SOS, registered agents, sos.wa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: West Virginia SOS, register an, sos.wv.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Form LLF-1, application for certificate, sos.wv.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: W, code.wvlegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: W, code.wvlegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: W, code.wvlegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: West Virginia SOS, cancel or, sos.wv.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Wyoming Secretary of State, foreign, sos.wyo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Wyoming Secretary of State, fee, sos.wyo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Wyoming Secretary of State, business, sos.wyo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Certificate of Withdrawal, foreign LLC, sos.wyo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Wyoming Statutes, Title 17, wyoleg.gov, current as of October 2026