Delaware Certificate of Good Standing

A Delaware Certificate of Good Standing is an official document from the Delaware Secretary of State confirming that a company exists, is in good standing, and is current with its Delaware taxes. It is also sometimes called a Certificate of Existence.

No, a Certificate of Good Standing is not required to continuously operate a business. You typically only need one when requested for a specific transaction or official purpose. Just keep in mind that most requesting parties want the certificate to be recently issued, so you may need to obtain a new one when the need arises.

If your company is registered to do business in multiple states, a requesting party may ask for proof of good standing from any of those states. Since a certificate from one state doesn't automatically mean that you're in good standing in another state, each state issues its own certificate, often through the office of its Secretary of State.

You can obtain a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing directly through Harvard Business Services, Inc. Order your Certificate of Good Standing online by submitting your company info and paying a service fee.

When ordering your certificate through Harvard Business Services, Inc., any orders placed prior to 1:00 PM EST will be emailed the same day. Depending on the state's processing time, your Certificate of Good Standing may arrive in as little as 10 minutes, while other requests may take a few hours. Orders placed after 1:00 PM EST and orders placed during weekends or holidays may be emailed the next business day.

Harvard Business Services, Inc. services start at $124 to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing. If you need the document for international use, you can also request a Certificate of Good Standing with Apostille for $225.

While a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing doesn't technically expire, the party requesting the document will usually want one that is up to date. Depending on what it is being used for, it will be accepted anywhere from 30 days to 12 months from the date it's signed. Please check with the party requesting the document if you are unsure if the copy you have meets their requirements.

If your company hasn't met all of the state compliance requirements, your request for a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing will likely be denied. You won't be able to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing until the issue is resolved. This is commonly because your business has unpaid franchise taxes, a missing or late annual report, or the lack of a registered agent. If your entity is not currently compliant, we can also provide you with the necessary information to help you restore the company's good standing.

When you order a Certificate of Good Standing, you receive an official certificate confirming the status of your business. The following information is often visible on a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing:

• Business Name
• State of Formation
• Issuance Date
• Delaware Franchise Tax Status
• Date of Formation (Not included when ordered through the state. When HBS orders the certificate, we request an optional clause from the State so the formation date is included on the State-issued certificate itself.)

This info will be accompanied by the current status of your business, indicating that you are in good standing. Keep in mind that the information included in the Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Existence may differ from state to state.

You may need an Apostille if your Certificate of Good Standing will be used in another country. Apostilles are generally used for documents being presented in countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents intended for countries outside the Convention may require a different authentication process.

Yes! Our team is happy to help you order a Certificate of Good Standing, even if you started your company with another service provider. Our team can also act as your Delaware Registered Agent if you're also transitioning on that front.