How to Order a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing Online
Need a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing? Order online through the Delaware Division of Corporations for $50 (short form) or $175 (long form). Here's exactly how to do it.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Introduction
You can order a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing online through the Delaware Division of Corporations' Document Filing and Certificate Request Service. The short form costs $50 and the long form costs $175. Processing time ranges from same-day to a few weeks depending on whether you pay for expedited service.
What is a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
A Delaware Certificate of Good Standing — also called a Certificate of Status or Certificate of Existence — is an official document issued by the Delaware Secretary of State that confirms your business exists and is in good standing with the state. It shows that your entity has been properly formed, is currently active, and is up to date on required filings and state taxes.
Banks, lenders, investors, and government agencies commonly ask for this document when you're opening a business bank account, applying for financing, registering to do business in another state, or entering into certain contracts. Most people don't think about it until someone asks for one — and then they need it fast.
Short form vs. long form: which one do you need?
Delaware issues 2 types of certificates. The short form (Certificate of Status) costs $50 and confirms your entity name and current standing at the time of issuance. The long form (Certificate of Good Standing) costs $175 and includes more detailed historical information about your entity's filings over time.
For most common requests — opening a bank account, registering in another state, or satisfying a lender — the short form is enough. Ask whoever is requesting the certificate which version they need before you order. The long form is typically required only when a third party needs a detailed filing history.
How to order a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing online
Order your certificate through the Delaware Division of Corporations' Document Filing and Certificate Request Service at corp.delaware.gov. The online status check tool at the same site is not a substitute — it shows entity status but does not generate an official certificate.
Here's the process:
Step 1 — Go to the Document Filing and Certificate Request Service at corp.delaware.gov/directweb. Step 2 — Search for your entity by name or file number. Step 3 — Select the certificate type: short form ($50) or long form ($175). Step 4 — Choose your processing speed. Standard processing takes 1 to 3 weeks. Expedited options are available for an additional fee — same-day service is available if your request is received before the daily cutoff time. Step 5 — Pay by credit card and submit. Certificates cannot be returned by fax or email, so confirm your mailing address before submitting.
How to order by mail
You can also request a certificate by mail if you prefer a written submission. Send your request to the Delaware Division of Corporations at 401 Federal Street, Suite 4, Dover, DE 19901. Mail requests take longer than online orders, so plan ahead if you have a deadline.
Your written request should include: your name and mailing address; a phone number and email address if available; your business entity's legal name and file number (if you have it); the certificate type you're requesting (short form or long form); and whether you need expedited processing. You can use a Certification Request Memo or submit the request on corporate letterhead. The Division does not return certificates by fax or email, so include a valid mailing address.
Fees and processing times
Delaware's fees are set by the Division of Corporations and don't vary by entity type. The short form Certificate of Status costs $50. The long form Certificate of Good Standing costs $175. Both fees are per certificate — if you need multiple copies, you pay the fee for each one.
Standard processing typically takes 1 to 3 weeks, though the Division notes that turnaround varies with office volume and can run longer during busy seasons. Delaware offers multiple expedited service tiers for faster processing. Same-day service is available for an additional fee — the request must reach the Division before the daily cutoff. A 24-hour expedited tier is also available with a cutoff of 7:00 PM ET. Expedite fees are charged on top of the base certificate fee.
If you need the certificate urgently, the online ordering system is your best option. Mail requests don't qualify for the same expedited tiers and add transit time on both ends.
FAQ
Yes. You can order a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing online through the Division of Corporations' Document Filing and Certificate Request Service at corp.delaware.gov/directweb. Note that the online status check tool at corp.delaware.gov/onlinestatus is not the same thing — it shows entity status but does not produce an official certificate.
The short form Certificate of Status costs $50 per certificate. The long form Certificate of Good Standing costs $175 per certificate. Both fees are set by the Delaware Division of Corporations and apply to all entity types. If you need expedited processing, additional expedite fees are charged on top of the base certificate fee.
It depends on the processing speed you choose. Standard processing generally takes 1 to 3 weeks, though the Division notes turnaround varies with office volume. Delaware offers same-day and 24-hour expedited tiers for an additional fee. Same-day service requires your request to arrive before the daily cutoff; the 24-hour tier has a 7:00 PM ET cutoff.
It depends on who's asking for it. Delaware doesn't set an official expiration date on the certificate itself, but the party requesting it — a bank, lender, or government agency — often has its own freshness requirement, typically 30 to 90 days from the issue date. Check with the requesting party before you order so you don't end up with a certificate that's too old to use.
Generally, it means your business has been properly formed, is currently active, and is up to date on required state filings and taxes. In Delaware, that includes paying your franchise tax and filing any required reports. If your business is behind on either, the state won't issue a Certificate of Good Standing until you're current.
Go to the Delaware Division of Corporations' Document Filing and Certificate Request Service at corp.delaware.gov/directweb. Search for your entity, select the certificate type (short form at $50 or long form at $175), choose your processing speed, and pay by credit card. You can also submit a written request by mail to 401 Federal Street, Suite 4, Dover, DE 19901 — but mail requests take longer and don't qualify for same-day expedited service.