Need to get an Apostille for your certificate of good standing? NotaryPublic24 provides a fully compliant notary service that adheres to applicable laws and regulations.
A certificate of good standing is an official document issued by the authority that registered your company, usually the Secretary of State in the US or Companies House in the UK. It confirms that the company legally exists and is up to date with its filings and fees.
The name varies by jurisdiction. California issues a certificate of status, other states call it a certificate of existence or certificate of fact, and Companies House includes a summary statement confirming that the company has been in continuous existence and is not being struck off.
The certificate shows the company’s registered name, its registration number, the date it was formed and its current status. It is a snapshot of the register on the day it is issued.
Banks, investors and foreign authorities use the certificate as proof that a company is real and compliant. It is routinely requested when you open a business bank account abroad, register a branch or subsidiary in another country or take part in a tender.
In mergers and acquisitions, a certificate of good standing is a standard closing document, usually together with the certificate of incorporation and an incumbency certificate. Lenders ask for it before releasing funds, and licensing bodies ask for it when a company renews permits or registers in a new state.
Recipients usually want a recent certificate. Many will only accept one issued within the last 30 to 90 days, so it is best to order it close to the date it will be used.
For use outside the country of registration, the certificate normally needs an Apostille or embassy legalization on top. Without it, a foreign registry or bank has no way to verify that the certificate is genuine.
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In the US, order the certificate from the Secretary of State of the state where the company is registered. Most states offer it online within minutes, for example through California’s bizfile portal, and fees typically range from no charge to around 50 dollars.
Delaware charges 50 dollars for a short form certificate of status and 175 dollars for a long form certificate of good standing that lists every document the company has filed. Check which version the recipient needs before you order.
In the UK, order a company certificate with certified facts from Companies House through the Find and update company information service. The standard service costs 22 pounds and the same-day express service 65 pounds.
The company must be compliant to receive the certificate. If annual reports, franchise taxes or confirmation statements are overdue, file them first, otherwise the request is refused or the certificate shows a non-compliant status.
When a certificate of good standing is used in another country, the receiving authority will usually ask for an Apostille. The Apostille certifies the signature and seal of the official who issued the certificate, so it is recognized in every country that has joined the Hague Apostille Convention.
A US certificate is apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state that issued it. A UK certificate from Companies House is apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
If the destination country is not part of the Hague Convention, the certificate needs embassy legalization instead. This involves authentication by the foreign ministry followed by the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
NotaryPublic24 guides you through the Apostille or legalization process for your certificate of good standing, so it is accepted by the foreign bank, registry or partner that requested it.
Looking for reliable Notary Public services? NotaryPublic24 provides a fully compliant notary service that adheres to all applicable laws and regulations. With our certified Notary Public professionals, we ensure efficient and secure document authentication.
No matter if you are in the need of notarizing documents, or obtaining an Apostille – we will guide and help you throughout the whole process.
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An Apostille is a certificate that makes your document valid in other countries. It's like a stamp of approval that confirms your document is real and can be used in countries that are part of the Apostille Convention. This agreement between countries makes it easier to use important documents like birth certificates and marriage licenses abroad without needing any other certifications. The Apostille verifies the signatures and seals on your document, ensuring it's accepted as genuine.
Notarization is the official process of having a document legally verified by a notary public. A notary public is an authorized official who verifies the identities of the people signing a document and confirms that the signatures are authentic. This process makes the document legally recognized and trustworthy, helping to prevent fraud and ensuring its validity for important matters like buying a house, signing a contract, or creating a will.
A Notary Public is an authorized official who has the right to issue certain certificates. An example is the Apostille stamp. A Notary Public is authorized by the state and applies their official seal and signature to certify the documents.
A certificate of good standing is an official document from the Secretary of State or Companies House confirming that a company is registered, legally exists and is up to date with its filings and fees. It is often called a certificate of status or certificate of existence.
Order it from the registry where the company is registered: the Secretary of State in the US or Companies House in the UK. Most registries issue it online within minutes or a few working days, provided the company has no overdue filings or unpaid fees.
The certificate itself has no legal expiry date, but it only reflects the register on the day it was issued. Most banks, registries and counterparties require one dated within the last 30 to 90 days.
Yes. Certificate of status, certificate of existence and certificate of fact are the names different US states use for the same document. Companies House uses a certificate with a summary statement, formerly called a good standing statement.
Usually yes. Foreign banks, registries and authorities cannot verify a US or UK official's signature themselves, so they ask for an Apostille, or embassy legalization if the destination country is not part of the Hague Convention.
No, you do not have to be physically present to get an Apostille online. However, you need to verify your identity with a government issued ID.
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