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How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Delaware

Delaware calls it the Certificate of Good Standing (Short Form) and charges $50. Here is how to order it and what must be current first.

At a glance

Document name
Certificate of Good Standing (Short Form)
State fee
$50
Online ordering
Yes
Typical turnaround
Standard 1-3 weeks mail
Issuing office
Delaware SOS ↗

How to order it

  1. Clear any past-due filings first. The Delaware SOS will not issue a certificate while you have unpaid tax or an unfiled report. The state-specific requirements are in the points below.
  2. Order it online. Search your LLC in the Delaware portal, request the certificate, and download it. Link in the table above.
  3. Pay the $50 fee. Pay by card at checkout. A small card surcharge usually applies.
  4. Use it inside the recipient's window. The certificate has no state expiration, but banks and other states usually want one dated within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to when you need it.
Full ordering details for Delaware

Delaware issues a Certificate of Good Standing through the Division of Corporations at corp.delaware.gov. Delaware offers two versions: Short Form ($50) confirms the entity is current on franchise taxes and fees and still exists. Long Form ($175) adds the complete filing history including all amendments since formation, which some receiving states or institutions require. Order through the Delaware Document Filing and Certificate Request Service (requires an account). Domestic LLCs owe the flat $300 annual LLC tax (due June 1), which must be current before a certificate will issue. Processing runs 1-3 weeks for standard mail; expedite fees are stacked on top of the base $50 or $175.

Processing and expedited tiers: Standard 1-3 weeks mail; expedite tiers (short form): 24-hour (+$40), same-day (+$50), 2-hour ($500), 1-hour ($1,000). Long form expedite tiers: 24-hour (+$60), same-day (+$80), plus same 2-hour/1-hour priority tiers

Important to know about Delaware

  • Delaware has TWO versions with very different pricing: Short Form is $50 and Long Form is $175. Most banks and foreign-qualification filings accept the Short Form - confirm before paying for the Long Form.
  • The $300 annual LLC tax (flat rate, due June 1 each year) must be fully paid before a Certificate of Good Standing will be issued. Delaware does not send paper reminders; missing June 1 triggers $200 late penalty plus 1.5% monthly interest.
  • Expedite fees stack on top of the base certificate fee, but the short-form tiers are lower than you might expect: 24-hour short-form total is $50 + $40 = $90, same-day is $50 + $50 = $100. Long-form 24-hour is $175 + $60 = $235, same-day is $175 + $80 = $255. The $500 (2-hour) and $1,000 (1-hour) Priority tiers are separate and apply to all document types.
  • Third-party registered agents and filing services typically add a $75-$100 processing fee on top of state fees. Ordering directly through the Division of Corporations avoids this markup.
  • Delaware LLCs do NOT file annual reports (corporations do). Good standing is tied purely to the flat $300 annual tax and to having a valid registered agent on file.

Ordering this to register in another state?

A certificate of good standing is what a new state asks for when you register your Delaware LLC to do business there. Start with the guide for where you are expanding.

Delaware foreign LLC guide · Foreign qualification by state

Related guides

This page provides general information based on publicly available Delaware Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Names, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Delaware SOS before ordering.