Kansas keeps its business records at the Secretary of State, and the proof of status is a Certificate of Good Standing, shortened to CGS. It is sold online only. There is no counter or mail order for it.
The state fee regulation lists $5.00 for an online certificate. The full guide to the office, including search and formation, is in the Kansas office guide.
What does a Kansas CGS show?
The document names the business exactly as it appears on record. It states that the business is in good standing and gives the date the formation document was filed. The Secretary of State certifies it with the date of issue.
A CGS is not the same as a certified copy. A certified copy is a stamped copy of a filed document, such as the articles. The CGS speaks to the standing of the business today.
| What the state calls it | Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) (sos.ks.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Fee | $5 (sos.ks.gov, checked ) |
| Where to order | sos.ks.gov/businesses/copies-and-certifications.html (sos.ks.gov, checked ) |
How to buy one, step by step
- Create a user account on the Kansas Secretary of State site if you do not have one.
- Log in and open the Copies and Certifications area.
- Choose the option to purchase a Certified Copy or Certificate of Good Standing.
- Search by the business name or the business ID number.
- Select the business from the results.
- Follow the screens and pay.
The certificate appears in your account under Completed Filings, and it stays there for up to 1 year. Save your own copy when you buy it.
Checking a certificate
Each certificate carries a verification code. A bank, a court or a state agency can enter that code in the Certificate Verification tool. This is useful when the person asking for your certificate wants more than a PDF.
What stops a Kansas business from getting one?
Only a business in good standing may purchase a CGS. The usual cause of trouble is the information report. Kansas information reports are filed every two years, not every year. For-profit businesses file by April 15 of their odd or even year, and an LLC pays $90 online or $110 on paper.
Every status word Kansas uses is explained in our Kansas office guide.
A business that misses the date becomes delinquent and then has a three month window to file late. After that it is forfeited, and no other documents can be filed until the reports are in and a certificate of reinstatement is approved. A business with no active Kansas resident agent and registered office can be forfeited too.
How to fix it, then order
Find the status on the business record first. If it reads delinquent, file the information report during the three month window. If it reads forfeited, you need reinstatement before anything else, and you should ask the Secretary of State's business services staff what they need from you.
Once the record reads active and in good standing, buy the CGS. Do not order early and hope, because the certificate reflects the record on the day you buy it. See the general guide on certificates of good standing for how other states differ.
You can do all of this at the state yourself, and state fees are separate from anything we charge. If you want help, you can ask our private filing service.
Sources
- sos.ks.gov/businesses/copies-and-certifications.html: good standing certificate, certificate ordering. Checked .
- sos.ks.gov/publications/register/Volume-45/Issues/Issue-07/02-12-26-53865.html: certificate fee. Checked .