Certificate of Good Standing Apostille Services
California Certificate of Status and Delaware Certificate of Good Standing retrieval, apostille, legalization, and international shipping services.
Apostille and Legalization for Certificates of Good Standing
A certificate of good standing may be required to open a foreign bank account, register a company overseas, establish an international subsidiary, complete a business transaction, or participate in a legal proceeding abroad.
SF Notary + Apostille can retrieve an official certificate from the appropriate state agency, obtain the required apostille or authentication, coordinate any necessary embassy or consulate legalization, and ship the completed documents worldwide.
We primarily handle certificates issued in California and Delaware, but we may also be able to assist with business records from other states.
What Is a Certificate of Good Standing?
A certificate of good standing is an official state-issued document confirming the current status of a corporation, limited liability company, or another registered business entity.
The exact title varies by state. California calls this document a Certificate of Status, while Delaware offers a Certificate of Status or Certificate of Good Standing. Depending on the state and type of entity, the document may instead be called a Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Authorization.
A certificate generally confirms that the entity exists in the state’s records and has the status shown as of the certificate’s issue date. It does not ordinarily provide an assessment of the company’s financial condition, business practices, ownership, or licenses.
California Certificates of Status can be issued for corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships through the California Secretary of State. The California Secretary of State confirms that these certificates report an entity’s current status.
California Certificate of Status Apostille
For a business registered in California, we can obtain an official Certificate of Status from the California Secretary of State and complete the separate apostille or authentication process required for use abroad.
California uses the official term Certificate of Status, although many clients and overseas authorities refer to the document as a certificate of good standing.
Delaware Certificate of Good Standing Apostille
For a business formed or registered in Delaware, we can retrieve an official certificate from the Delaware Division of Corporations and obtain the required Delaware apostille or authentication.
Delaware offers two principal options:
Short-form Certificate of Status: Identifies the entity and states its current status.
Long-form Certificate of Good Standing: Includes the entity’s filing history, filing dates, name changes, and current status.
The Delaware Division of Corporations currently describes these distinctions and identifies the applicable certificate options on its official corporate-information page.
If you are uncertain which version is required, ask the receiving authority whether it needs a short-form or long-form certificate before ordering.
Does the Certificate Need an Apostille or Legalization?
The destination country determines the required process:
For a country participating in the Hague Apostille Convention, the state-issued certificate generally requires an apostille from the state that issued it.
For a non-Hague country, the certificate may require state authentication followed by additional embassy or consulate legalization.
We will confirm the appropriate process based on the issuing state and destination country.
How Recent Must a Certificate of Good Standing Be?
Requirements are established by the foreign bank, government agency, attorney, or other receiving authority. Some recipients require a certificate issued within the previous 30, 60, or 90 days. Before ordering, ask the receiving party whether it has a specific recency requirement.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing Apostille
Step 1: Send Us the Request Details
Email info@sfnotary.com with:
Exact legal name of the company
State where the company was formed or registered
Entity or file number, if available
Destination country
Whether a short-form or long-form Delaware certificate is required, if applicable
Requested completion date
Recipient’s name, company, telephone number, email address, and complete shipping address
Step 2: Review Your Quote
We will confirm the required certificate, apostille or legalization process, expected turnaround time, and total price before beginning the order.
Step 3: We Complete the Process
We retrieve the official certificate, obtain the appropriate apostille or authentication, coordinate any additional embassy or consulate legalization when required, and send you a scan before shipping the completed documents.
Domestic packages can be sent by FedEx Priority Overnight, and international packages can be sent by FedEx International Priority.
Order a Certificate of Good Standing Apostille
For a quote or help determining which certificate you need, email info@sfnotary.com or call +1 (415) 655-9455.
Disclaimer: Information on this website is for informational purposes only. These instructions are based on our knowledge and experience and are meant to be helpful; however, they might contain errors. Please let us know if you encounter mistakes so that we can promptly correct them. SF Notary + Apostille is not a law firm, and its agents are not attorneys. Please contact a licensed attorney or your local bar association for counsel on legal matters.