If you order a Certificate of Good Standing for your business, you may wonder whether you can continue using it indefinitely or when you need to order a new one.
A Certificate of Good Standing generally does not come with a set expiration date. It provides a snapshot of your entity’s status with the state as of the date it was issued.
Banks, lenders, government agencies, attorneys, and other organizations may require a Certificate of Good Standing that was issued within a certain period of time, often within the last 30, 60, or 90 days. Whether you need a new certificate usually depends on who is requesting it and what you are using it for.
What Is a Certificate of Good Standing?
A Certificate of Good Standing is an official document issued by a state agency confirming that a business is in good standing with the state as of the date the certificate is issued.
Depending on the state, the document may also be called a Certificate of Existence, Certificate of Status, Certificate of Compliance, Certificate of Fact, or Certificate of Subsistence.
Being in good standing generally means that the business has met applicable state requirements, such as maintaining required filings and paying required state fees or taxes.
The certificate provides a snapshot of the company’s status at a particular point in time. This is why the date on the certificate matters.
Does a Certificate of Good Standing Have an Expiration Date?
In most cases, a Certificate of Good Standing does not have a specific expiration date printed on it.
Instead, the organization requesting the certificate determines how recently it must have been issued.
For example, you might have a Certificate of Good Standing that was issued six months ago. The certificate itself may not technically be “expired,” but a bank requiring a certificate issued within the past 30 days would not accept it.
In that situation, you would need to obtain a new Certificate of Good Standing.
How Recent Does a Certificate of Good Standing Need to Be?
There is no single rule that applies to every transaction.
A requesting organization may require a certificate issued within:
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
- Six months
- Another specified period
Some organizations may simply ask for a “current” or “recent” Certificate of Good Standing without initially providing a specific timeframe.
Before ordering a certificate, it is a good idea to ask the requesting organization exactly how recent the document needs to be. This can help you avoid ordering a certificate that will not meet its requirements.
Why Do Organizations Require a Recent Certificate?
Your company’s status can change after a Certificate of Good Standing is issued.
For example, a business could be in good standing when a certificate is issued and later fail to file a required report or meet another state requirement.
An older certificate only confirms that the company was in good standing on the date shown on the document. It does not necessarily confirm the company’s status today.
Requiring a recently issued certificate gives the requesting organization greater confidence that the business is currently compliant with applicable state requirements. Looking for help maintaining your good standing and state compliance? URA offers annual report services. We eliminate the compliance workload so you can focus on what you do best – running your business.
When Might You Need a New Certificate of Good Standing?
Businesses may be asked to provide a recently issued Certificate of Good Standing for a variety of reasons, including:
- Opening or updating a business bank account
- Applying for financing or a business loan
- Registering to do business in another state
- Completing certain business transactions
- Working with an attorney, accountant, or other professional
- Applying for certain licenses or permits
- Providing documentation to a potential investor, buyer, or business partner
The exact requirements vary depending on the organization and transaction.
Can You Use an Old Certificate of Good Standing?
Possibly.
If the organization requesting the certificate does not specify how recently it must have been issued, your existing certificate may be acceptable.
However, you should not assume that an older certificate will work simply because it does not show an expiration date.
If you already have a certificate, tell the requesting organization when it was issued and ask whether it meets their requirements. If it does not, you will need to order a new one.
What If Your Business Is No Longer in Good Standing?
If your business has fallen out of good standing since your previous certificate was issued, you generally cannot obtain a new Certificate of Good Standing until the underlying compliance issues have been resolved. You can learn more about what causes a business to lose good standing status here.
The specific steps required depend on the state and the reason the business is not in good standing. A business may need to submit past-due filings, pay outstanding state fees or taxes, or address another compliance issue before its status can be restored.
This is another reason an organization may request a recently issued certificate rather than relying on one obtained months or years earlier.
How Do You Get a Current Certificate of Good Standing?
Certificates of Good Standing are issued by the appropriate state agency, often the Secretary of State or Division of Corporations.
The ordering process, cost, processing time, and available delivery methods vary by state.
Universal Registered Agents can assist with obtaining Certificates of Good Standing in all 50 states. We regularly retrieve business documents for companies, law firms, and other professionals who need reliable document retrieval without navigating different state procedures themselves.
If you need a current Certificate of Good Standing, order your Certificate of Good Standing online through Universal Registered Agents. We offer delivery via email, with the fastest turnaround time in the industry.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Certificate of Good Standing?
The good news is that most states can issue a Certificate of Good Standing fairly quickly, often the same day and sometimes within minutes. Many states offer expedited processing. To see how long it takes for your specific state, head over to our Certificate of Good Standing order form and select your state. If expedited processing is available, you will see that as an option. Estimated turnaround time is listed above your order total.
Do You Need a New Certificate of Good Standing?
A Certificate of Good Standing typically does not have a universal expiration date. Instead, the organization requesting the certificate decides how recently it must have been issued.
A certificate that is several months old may still accurately show that your company was in good standing when it was issued, but it may not satisfy a bank, government agency, lender, or other organization that requires more recent proof.
If someone has requested a Certificate of Good Standing from your business, confirm how recent the certificate needs to be before placing your order.
Do you have additional questions or want someone to walk you through it? Give us a call at (855) 236-9172. We’re here to help!
