About your Certificate of Status

Getting a Certificate of Status also known as a Certificate of Status is often part of the foreign qualification process. The point is to let other states know that your business (such as an LLC, corporation, nonprofit, LLP, LP, or other types of registered entities) is in good standing with the state. This means the business is current on all of its state fees and has filed all necessary state reports. Some states will also use a certificate of good standing to verify the date when your business was formed.

Part of the process of registering to do business in another state involves providing a certificate of status from your home state. Keep in mind that the new state might not ask specifically for a “certificate of good standing” because some states refer to them differently.

About your Certified Hard Copy of Articles of Organization

A certified copy is a copy of an original document issued by the same authority as the original document. In other words, if you filed your articles with your state’s Secretary of State, this office (or another agency the office authorizes) would issue any certified copies.

Because they are issued by authorities, certified copies are commonly accepted in lieu of originals for many different filings and submissions. While original documents can be used in most situations, this is not always practical. There’s a risk for damage or loss when submitting original documents, particularly via mail. Original documents may not always be easily accessible either, making certified copies a convenient alternative.