Delaware sells two versions of this certificate, and most people order the wrong one.
The $50 version says your company is compliant. The $175 version says everything that has ever happened to it.
The short answer
| Short form | Long form | |
|---|---|---|
| State fee | $50 | $175 |
| What it confirms | the entity exists and is compliant | the above, plus every filing in its history |
| 24-hour processing | +$40 | +$60 |
| Same-day processing | +$50 | +$80 |
| Who usually wants it | banks, most counterparties | lenders, acquirers, due diligence |
Start with the short form. It is what the overwhelming majority of requests actually need, and it is a third of the price.
What the certificate actually proves
A Certificate of Good Standing, called a Certificate of Status in Delaware, is the state confirming three things on the date of issue:
- The entity exists and is on the register
- It has paid its franchise tax up to date
- It has filed what it was required to file
What it does not prove, and this is regularly misread:
- Nothing about the company's finances
- Nothing about whether it is trading
- Nothing about who owns it
- Nothing about litigation
- Nothing about tomorrow. It is a snapshot with a date on it
That last point is why counterparties ask for a certificate issued within the last 30 or 60 days. An old certificate proves the company was compliant then, not now.
Free status check versus the paid certificate
This trips people up because Delaware offers both and they look similar.
| Free entity search | Paid certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | free | $50 or $175 |
| What you get | a status shown on screen | a signed, sealed document from the state |
| Accepted by banks? | no | yes |
| Usable as evidence? | no | yes |
| Good for | your own quick check | anything official |
Use the free search to check your own company, or to look at a counterparty before a first conversation.
Buy the certificate whenever someone else needs to rely on it. A screenshot of a status page is not a certificate, and no bank will treat it as one.
When you actually need one
The situations that generate the request, in rough order of frequency:
- Opening a US bank account. Usually the first time a founder meets this document
- Foreign qualification in another state, which will not process without it
- Financing or investment, where diligence requires it
- An acquisition, which is where the long form appears
- Certain contracts, particularly with government bodies or large corporates
- Renewing a licence in a regulated activity
For 1, 2 and 5, the short form is what is wanted. For 3 and 4, ask before ordering, because the long form is often specified.
Which form to order
The long form lists the company's complete filing history: every amendment, every merger, every change of status since formation.
Order the long form only when:
- Someone has explicitly asked for the "long form" or "certificate with filing history"
- You are in an acquisition or a financing process
- The company has a complicated history and the counterparty wants to see it
Otherwise the short form is correct. Ordering the long form when nobody asked costs an extra $125 and provides information nobody reads.
If the request just says "certificate of good standing", it means the short form. The long form is always asked for by name.
The entity exists and is compliant.
- What banks and most counterparties ask for
- +$40 for 24 hours, +$50 same day
The above, plus every filing in its history.
- Wanted by lenders, acquirers and formal diligence
- +$60 for 24 hours, +$80 same day
Delaware publishes standing online.
- Enough for anything internal
- Not a document you can hand to a bank
How to lose good standing
The certificate is a consequence of compliance, not a thing you maintain directly. You lose it by missing the annual obligations.
- Not paying the annual tax by 1 June. The single most common cause
- Corporations not filing the annual report, which is separate from paying
- Not having a registered agent, including after an agent resigns for non-payment
The sequence, if you let it run:
- Miss the deadline, incur the $200 penalty plus 1.5% monthly interest
- Lose good standing, so certificates cannot be issued
- Stay delinquent and the charter is eventually voided
- Reinstatement costs more than compliance ever did
The practical damage usually arrives before the legal damage. A bank asks for a certificate, you cannot get one, and the account application stalls until the back taxes are paid.
What it costs in practice
The state fees above are what Delaware charges. Most founders order through their registered agent, who adds a service fee, commonly $50 to $100.
That is not a scam, but it is worth knowing the split. A $150 quote for a "certificate of good standing" is $50 of state fee and $100 of service, and you can order directly if you prefer.
Staying in good standing costs nothing beyond meeting the annual obligations you already have, which is worth seeing set out with the rest of the annual bill.
The summary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Short form | $50 |
| Long form | $175 |
| Which do I need? | Short form, unless the long form was named |
| Is the free check enough? | Not for anyone else. Only for you |
| How long is it valid? | It is a snapshot. Counterparties usually want it under 30 to 60 days old |
| Main cause of losing it | Missing the 1 June annual tax |
| Agent markup | commonly $50 to $100 on top |
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
$50 for the short form and $175 for the long form, as state fees. Expedited processing adds $40 to $80.
What is the difference between short form and long form?
The short form confirms the entity exists and is compliant. The long form adds the complete history of filings and status changes.
Which one does my bank want?
Almost always the short form. The long form is specified by name when it is needed.
Is a Certificate of Status the same thing?
Yes. Delaware calls it a Certificate of Status; most people call it a Certificate of Good Standing.
Can I just use the free entity search instead?
For your own check, yes. For anything a third party has to rely on, no. Banks require the signed certificate.
How long is the certificate valid?
It has no expiry, but it is a snapshot of a date. Counterparties typically want one issued within the last 30 to 60 days.
Why can I not get a certificate?
Most often because the annual tax is unpaid. Delaware will not issue a certificate for an entity that is not in good standing.
Does the certificate prove the company is solvent?
No. It says nothing about finances, trading activity, ownership or litigation.
Why is my registered agent charging more than $50?
The state fee is $50 for the short form. Agents add a service fee, commonly $50 to $100. You can order directly.
How do I get back into good standing?
Pay the outstanding annual tax, the $200 penalty and accrued interest, and file anything outstanding. Certificates become available again once the record is clear.
Sources
- Delaware Division of Corporations: certificates and fees
- Delaware Division of Corporations: entity search and status
- Delaware Division of Corporations: expedited services
State fees and expedited surcharges are as published by the Delaware Division of Corporations in September 2026 and are revised periodically. Registered agent charges for ordering a certificate on your behalf are commercial and sit on top of these amounts.