Delaware Good Standing: How to Check, Fix & Prove It (2026)

Delaware good standing is the state’s confirmation that your LLC or corporation has paid what it owes and filed what it must — and the moment you apply for a loan, open a business bank account, or register in another state, someone will ask you to prove it. The catch: Delaware’s free entity search won’t actually tell you your status, and the certificate that proves it comes in two versions at very different prices. This guide covers how to check your standing, what it costs to document it, and how to fix it if you’ve slipped. At IncReg, every document is reviewed by a specialist before it goes to the state, so the guidance below reflects what we see in real filings every week.

A Delaware company is in good standing when it has paid all franchise taxes, filed any required annual reports, and maintains a registered agent in the state. You can verify status through Delaware’s paid online status check, and prove it to banks, investors, or other states with a Certificate of Good Standing.

What Does Good Standing in Delaware Mean?

Good standing is a compliance status, not a quality rating. It means the Delaware Division of Corporations considers your entity active and current on its state obligations.

A Certificate of Good Standing — also called a Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Status — is a statement issued by the Delaware Secretary of State that the company legally exists, is current with all franchise taxes and filings, and maintains registered agent service as of the date of issuance.

Just as important is what it does not mean. Good standing says nothing about your federal taxes, your business licenses, or whether the company is profitable or litigation-free. A company can be in perfect standing with Delaware while owing the IRS money, and vice versa. Third parties ask for it because it’s the fastest official proof that your entity exists and hasn’t been voided, cancelled, or administratively dissolved.

How to Check If a Company Is in Good Standing in Delaware

Here’s the part most guides gloss over: the free Delaware entity search does not show standing.

The free search returns the entity name, file number, formation date, and registered agent details — and results include both active and inactive entities, which the state explicitly notes is not an indication of current status.

To see actual status, use the state’s online status service at corp.delaware.gov. There are two options: a $10 status check or a $20 status with tax and history information — and neither generates an official certificate of good standing.

The $20 version returns the status, the last five filings, the franchise tax assessment, total authorized shares if applicable, and tax due.

Practical rule of thumb: use the $10 or $20 check for your own peace of mind or quick due diligence on a counterparty. Order the certificate only when a bank, state agency, lender, or investor specifically requires an official document.

Does Delaware Issue Certificates of Good Standing?

Yes. Delaware issues them on request for LLCs, corporations, LPs, and other registered entities, in two formats.

Short Form vs. Long Form

The short form certificate confirms the entity’s name, status, and that it’s authorized to do business in Delaware — sufficient for most general purposes, such as banking or registration in another state.

The long form adds every document the company has filed to date, with dates and times of filing, plus any name changes.

When does the long form actually matter?

A common example: if you changed your company name in Delaware and are foreign qualified in another state, that state may require a long form certificate confirming the name amendment before it updates your registration. It also shows up in acquisitions and legal due diligence, where the buyer’s counsel wants the full filing history.

When in doubt, verify the specific document required directly with the requesting party — the bank, state, or partner asking for it.

What a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing Looks Like

You don’t have to guess. The Division of Corporations publishes sample certificate wording for every variation — short form good standing for domestic corporations, short form for domestic alternative entities like LLCs, long form versions, foreign entity versions, and change-of-name certificates.

The certificate is a single official page signed by the Secretary of State, stating that your entity is duly formed, legally existing, and current on taxes as of the issue date.

It bears an authentication number that the requesting party can verify with the Corporations Division, which is how banks confirm you didn’t just print one yourself.

How Much Does a Certificate of Good Standing Cost in Delaware?

The filing fee is $50 for short forms and $175 for long forms. Routine processing takes days to weeks depending on the state’s workload, and expedited service — 24-hour or same-day — is available for an additional fee on top of the base price.

One 2026 change worth knowing: House Bill 400 gave the Delaware Secretary of State flexibility to raise expedited processing fees, increasing the maximums the state can charge for rush service. If timing matters, confirm the current expedite pricing when you order rather than relying on older articles.

One prerequisite trips people up: if your company owes Delaware franchise taxes, they must be paid in full before you can request a Certificate of Good Standing. The state won’t certify a delinquent entity, period.

How to Order a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing

You can absolutely do this yourself. Here’s the process:

1. Confirm you’re actually in good standing. Run the $10 or $20 status check first. Discovering unpaid franchise tax after you’ve submitted a certificate request wastes time and money.
2. Pick short form or long form. Ask the party requesting the certificate which one they need. Default to short form if they don’t specify.
3. Prepare the request. Use the Division’s Certification Request Memo or a request on company letterhead, including your business’s legal name, entity file number if you have it, the certificate type, whether you want expedited processing, and your name, mailing address, and phone number.
4. Submit and pay. Send the written request to the Delaware Division of Corporations at 401 Federal Street, Suite 4, Dover, DE 19901, with payment accompanying the request — or use the Division’s electronic document upload service.
5. Wait for mail delivery. The Division mails the certificate to the address you provide — certificates can’t be returned by fax or email. Build that mailing time into any closing or filing deadline.

Also check the shelf life before you order too early. How long a certificate stays usable depends on what you need it for — many recipients want one no older than 30 days, while others accept certificates up to six months old. Order close to when you’ll actually use it.

What Knocks a Delaware Company Out of Good Standing

Nearly every lost-standing case we see traces back to one of three causes.

1. Missed franchise tax. Delaware franchise taxes for corporations are due by March 1 every year; LLC taxes are due by June 1.

For corporations, the current minimum is $225 — $175 in franchise tax plus a $50 annual report fee.

Pay late and the state adds a $200 penalty plus 1.5 percent monthly interest — and an LLC, LP, or GP that doesn’t pay by June 1 is no longer in good standing in Delaware.

Note the 2026 increase: under House Bill 400, signed May 21, 2026, the annual tax for Delaware LLCs rises from $300 to $400, and an LLC owing tax for the 2026 tax year should plan for the new $400 amount when that payment comes due in 2027.

Full breakdown in our guide to the Delaware LLC franchise tax.

2. Missed annual report (corporations only). Delaware corporations must file a franchise tax report — not just submit payment — by March 1 each year. LLCs don’t file annual reports in Delaware, a distinction we cover in Delaware LLC annual report requirements.

3. Losing your registered agent. Every Delaware entity must continuously maintain a registered agent in the state. If your agent resigns — often because you stopped paying them — and you don’t appoint a replacement in time, the state can void your entity. See Delaware registered agent requirements for what the role actually involves.

The real cost of lapsing isn’t the penalty — it’s the timing. Lost standing surfaces at the worst moments: mid-loan-application, mid-acquisition, or when a state deadline for foreign qualification is days away.

An entity out of good standing also loses services — the Division of Corporations will not file documents on its behalf.

How to Restore Delaware Good Standing

Falling out of standing is fixable. You must correct all deficiencies first — which may include filing overdue annual reports or paying back franchise taxes, plus accrued penalties and interest.

Depending on your situation, the Division of Corporations may also require a certificate of revival or restoration filing to formally return the entity to good standing. Only after reinstatement will the Delaware Secretary of State issue a new certificate.

One risk worth taking seriously: while a charter is voided, the company lacks legal authority to operate, and obligations entered during that period could be exposed to challenge. If your entity has been void for a while, restore it before signing anything significant.

If you’re in that spot, our Delaware revival and reinstatement service handles the back taxes calculation and the state filing in one pass.

Forming from Outside the US?

Non-US founders need certificates of good standing more often than domestic owners, not less. Foreign banks, payment processors, and home-country regulators frequently ask for one — and often require an apostille on top, an extra authentication step through the Delaware Secretary of State that adds state fees and processing time.

Apostilled certificates generally can’t be rushed the way standard ones can, so start early. The certificate also can’t be emailed to you by the state, which matters when your mailing address is overseas; a US-based registered agent or service provider typically receives and forwards it.

If that’s your situation, start with our guide to running a Delaware LLC as a non-US resident.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if a company is in good standing in Delaware?

Delaware’s free entity search shows only basic details like the entity name, file number, formation date, and registered agent — not status. To see actual standing, use the state’s online status service, which costs $10 for a basic status check or $20 for status plus franchise tax and filing history. Neither option produces an official certificate; it’s for verification only.

Does Delaware issue certificates of good standing?

Yes. The Delaware Secretary of State issues Certificates of Good Standing (also called Certificates of Status) for LLCs, corporations, and other registered entities. Two versions exist: a short form confirming the entity’s name and current status, and a long form that adds the complete filing history. The state only issues them to entities that are current on franchise taxes and filings.

How much does a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing cost in Delaware?

The state fee is $50 for a short form certificate and $175 for a long form certificate. Expedited processing — 24-hour or same-day service — costs extra, and Delaware raised the maximum expedite fees it can charge in 2026, so confirm current rush pricing when you order. Any unpaid franchise taxes must be paid in full before the state will issue the certificate.

Can I see an example of a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?

Yes. The Delaware Division of Corporations publishes sample certificate wording on corp.delaware.gov for every variation, including short and long forms for corporations and LLCs, foreign entity versions, and change-of-name certificates. The certificate is a single official page signed by the Secretary of State with an authentication number that the receiving party can verify with the state.

How long is a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing valid?

Delaware doesn’t set an expiration date — validity depends on who’s asking. Many banks and state agencies want a certificate issued within the last 30 days, while some accept one up to six months old. Because the state mails certificates rather than emailing them, order close to when you’ll actually use it and build in delivery time.

What happens if my Delaware LLC loses good standing?

You’ll owe the missed annual tax plus a $200 late penalty and 1.5 percent monthly interest, and the state won’t issue certificates or file documents for your entity until you’re current. If the lapse continues, Delaware can void the LLC’s charter entirely. Restoring standing means paying everything owed and, in some cases, filing a certificate of revival with the Division of Corporations.

Have a question about your specific situation? Contact us directly. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.