A Certificate of Good Standing also referred to as a Certificate of Existence is a state-issued business document certifying that your corporation legally exists and that it is current on all required documents and fees with the state it was formed in. A Certificate of Good Standing is usually only required if someone you’re doing business with requires it. Financial institutions will often require a Certificate of Good Standing prior to opening any business bank accounts.
You might be wondering if it’s worth having a Certificate of Good Standing for your Nevada-formed corporation. Having a Certificate of Good Standing for your Nevada corporation can be an important part of your business operations. When contemplating whether or not your company needs this document, please realize at some point in time you will most likely be asked to provide a certificate of good standing in order to conduct business.
A Certificate of Good Standing is not required for conducting all business; however, the chances of you needing one at some point is very likely. This is why it's important to know if and when your Nevada-formed business needs a Certificate of Good Standing and the purposes for which this document is used. This article will further discuss the Certificates of Good Standing and why your Nevada-formed corporation would need a Nevada Certificate of Good Standing Apostille.
As previously mentioned, a Certificate of Good Standing is a state-issued business document that certifies your corporation legally exists and that it is current on all required documents and fees as required by the state in which it was formed. A Certificate of Good Standing is also used by established business entities to prove that they are incorporated and legally authorized to conduct business in a particular state or jurisdiction.
If your Nevada-formed corporation will be conducting business in other states, you may very well be required to provide a Nevada Certificate of Good Standing. Also, your Certficates of Good Standing can be no older than 90 days in certain states. States that require a foreign corporation’s certificate of good standing to be less than 90 days old include Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Washington.
When doing business overseas, additional steps are required with the certification of your Nevada Certificate of Good Standing. Many foreign countries require proof of incorporation in order to conduct business in their territories. This is when you would need a Nevada Certificate of Good Standing Apostille.
A Certificate of Good Standing Apostille is a one-page document issued under the Great Seal of Nevada by the Nevada Secretary of State Office. This one-page document or Apostille is attached to a certified copy of your Nevada Certificate of Good Standing. The Certificate of Good Standing Apostille will provide proof of incorporation, especially when conducting business in foreign countries.
A Nevada Certificate of Good Standing Apostille confirms that your business:
● Is up-to-date on its state fee payments
● Has filed an annual report/statement of information
● Has paid its franchise taxes (may not apply to every state)
It must be understood that the Apostille does not validate the contents of the actual document filed with the state. This is why it’s very important to make sure all corporate documents are accurately completed and filed for your corporate entity. Filing incorrect or incomplete information with the state can cause serious delays with your business operations. American Apostille & Notary Services is well versed in completing and filing corporate documents including Nevada Certificate of Good Standing Apostilles. Contact us at 848-467-7740 to discuss your current business needs and how we can help you fulfill them.