Quick Tip: Order a Long Form Good Standing to Confirm you Have Copies of All Documents on File
CorporateA good standing certificate (aka status certificate ) is a state-issued document that verifies that a registered entity is authorized to do business in a given jurisdiction. Further, the document certifies that the named entity has complied with certain statutory requirements imposed by that state. These requirements may include things such as filing requisite paperwork and paying an annual fee or tax.
Most states offer two types of good standing certificates: a short form or a long form. A short form good standing typically contains only the entity name and its status with the filing office as of the date the certificate was issued. A long form good standing will list additional information about the entity. This information varies by state but usually contains a chronological list of all documents on file (articles and amendments , mergers, etc.) along with their respective filing dates.
A long form good standing can be a valuable tool when performing due diligence on a registered organization; it provides a good overview of the life of the entity and offers assurance that you have copies of all documents on file.