Georgia does not use the phrase good standing on its certificate. The Corporations Division of the Secretary of State issues a Certificate of Existence, and that is the document to order when someone asks for Georgia proof of standing.
This page covers the certificate and what can block it. The Georgia office guide covers search, fees and contacts in general.
Georgia Certificate of Existence fee
The fee is $10 online. On paper the Division adds its $10 service charge, as it does for most paper filings. Online orders run through eCorp, the same system used for the business search and annual registration.
| What the state calls it | Certificate of Existence (sos.ga.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Fee | $10 (sos.ga.gov, checked ) |
- Find the company in eCorp by name or control number.
- Check the status. You want Active/Compliance.
- Request the Certificate of Existence for that record and pay the $10 fee.
- Save the certificate and note its date.
Georgia status and what it means for you
Active/Compliance means the company is on file and meets the filing rules of the Georgia Code. That is the status that lets you get a clean certificate. Admin Dissolved is the one that stops you. Withdrawn applies to a foreign company that ended its authority in Georgia.
Every status word Georgia uses is explained in our Georgia office guide.
The annual registration behind it
Most Georgia problems start with the annual registration. Every LLC and corporation files one between January 1 and April 1. LLCs and for profit or professional corporations pay $50. Nonprofits pay $30. On paper the $10 service charge applies, and a paper envelope not postmarked by April 1 owes a $25 late fee.
A company that skips the registration altogether can be administratively dissolved. So can one that loses its registered agent or registered office and does not replace it.
Getting back to Active/Compliance
File the missing annual registration, or appoint a new registered agent if that was the cause. Allow for processing: the state lists 7 business days online and 15 by mail. If the company already shows Admin Dissolved, it needs a reinstatement first. The reinstatement fee was not in our sources, so check eCorp before you file. Order the Certificate of Existence once the record shows Active/Compliance again.
Who asks for Georgia proof
Banks opening an account, lenders and buyers of a business are the usual askers. Another state may want a recent Certificate of Existence before it lets a Georgia company register there. Our certificate of good standing guide compares names and fees across states.
Sources
- sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/Reference%20-%20Filing%20Fees_0.pdf: good standing certificate, certificate fee. Checked .