Nevada's Secretary of State issues a Certificate of Existence, and the face of it says it is evidence of good standing. It is not a separate product from the one other states call a good standing certificate. The Nevada twist is that your standing depends on two payments, the annual list and the State Business License.
Searching, formation and contacts are in the Nevada office guide. This page deals with the certificate.
How much is a Nevada Certificate of Existence?
The fee is $50.00. You can order online, by mail or by fax, and the office accepts the main credit cards for all payments. A decorative version, the ceremonial certificate, costs $100 and is a different item. It is meant for display.
| What the state calls it | Certificate of Existence (with or without status) (nvsos.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Fee | $50 for a certificate of existence that does not list previous records (NRS 78 fee) (leg.state.nv.us, checked ) |
| Where to order | nvsos.gov/businesses/commercial-recordings/sample-certificates (nvsos.gov, checked ) |
To order by mail, send a letter with the exact name of the entity, plus a check, money order or card authorization for $50.00 payable to Secretary of State. The address is 401 North Carson Street in Carson City. Fax orders need a detailed request and card details.
Which form should you order?
Nevada publishes three sample certificates. The short form states that the entity is duly organized or registered, has existed since a given date, and is in good standing. The long form with amendments adds a list of all organizational documents on file. The long form without amendments lists the documents but notes that no amendments are on file.
For a bank account or a license, the short form is usually enough. A lender or a foreign agency may want the long form, so ask which one before you pay.
What can stop the certificate?
The record has to show good standing at the date of the certificate. Nevada has four status words, and only one helps you here.
Every status word Nevada uses is explained in our Nevada office guide.
An entity falls into Default when it misses the initial or annual list, or the business license renewal. After one year in Default it goes to Revoked. The list is $150 and the State Business License for an LLC is $200, filed together each year in the anniversary month of formation. A late list adds a $75 penalty, and a late license adds $100.
How do you restore standing?
File a reinstatement and pay what is owed. The FAQ says all back fees and penalties, including the business license fee, must be paid before an entity is reinstated. Online, log in to ORION, search for the entity and manage the business from the results. On paper, send the Reinstatements or Revivals form.
When the record shows Active, order the certificate.
Who asks for it?
Banks, lenders, buyers of a company and out-of-state agencies ask for a recent certificate. Another state may want one before it registers your Nevada company. If a foreign party asks, you may need an apostille too, and our apostille guide explains that step. The yearly cycle is covered in our guide to annual reports.
If you would like a hand, you can ask our private filing service. State fees are separate, and you can order from the Secretary of State yourself.
Sources
- www.nvsos.gov/businesses/commercial-recordings/sample-certificates: good standing certificate, certificate ordering. Checked .
- www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-078.html: certificate fee. Checked .