In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Louisiana
A Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing is issued by the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, for corporations and LLCs. Order it through the Secretary of State’s document and certificate ordering service online, or by mail, fax or in person. The fee is $25 per certificate. The state fee schedule lists a $35 expedite for processing within 24 hours and $60 for priority, while-you-wait service. Requests received after 4:30 p.m. are processed the next business day.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing
- Issued by: Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division (Business Services)
- Fee: $25 per certificate for corporations and LLCs, plus a $5 statutory convenience fee on credit card payments
- How to order: Online through the Secretary of State’s ordering service, or by mail, fax or in person
- Turnaround: No standard time published; $35 expedite for 24 hours, $60 for priority service; orders after 4:30 p.m. start the next business day
- Free status check: Search the Louisiana Commercial Database at no cost
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing your annual report ($35) and keeping a registered agent on record
Banks, lenders and other states ask Louisiana businesses for proof that the company exists and is current with the Secretary of State. Louisiana calls that proof a Certificate of Good Standing, and it comes from the Secretary of State’s Commercial Division. This guide covers the order steps, the $25 fee, the fee changes that took effect October 1, 2026, and what to do if your entity has fallen out of status. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing is a sealed document from the Secretary of State confirming that a corporation or LLC is registered in Louisiana and is in good standing on the state’s records. It shows the entity has filed its annual reports and has not been revoked or dissolved. The Commercial Division issues it for both domestic and foreign corporations and LLCs on file.
Who asks for it:
- Banks opening a business account or renewing a credit line
- Other states, when your Louisiana LLC registers there as a foreign entity
- Lenders and SBA loan underwriters
- Payment processors reviewing a merchant account
- Buyers and their attorneys during the sale of the company or its assets
- Licensing agencies issuing contractor, alcohol or professional permits
The Secretary of State also issues other certificates, such as certified copies of filings. A request for “proof of good standing” in Louisiana means this certificate unless the requester names a tax document from the Louisiana Department of Revenue, covered below.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Louisiana
The Secretary of State lists Certificates of Good Standing for corporations and LLCs on its Order Documents and Certificates page. The online route runs through the state’s Commercial Database.
- Look up your entity in the Louisiana Commercial Database search by business name or charter number and confirm the status reads active.
- Open the Secretary of State’s document and certificate ordering service and select your corporation or LLC.
- Choose Certificate of Good Standing as the document type.
- Request expedited service if you need the certificate fast: $35 for processing within 24 hours or $60 for priority service.
- Pay the $25 certificate fee by credit card. A $5 statutory convenience fee applies to credit card payments.
- Receive the certificate and keep a copy with your company records.
By mail or fax: send a written request naming the entity, its charter number and the certificate you need, with payment, to the Commercial Division. Follow the mail and fax instructions on the Secretary of State’s How to Order page.
In person: the Commercial Division accepts in-person orders. The $60 priority option is the while-you-wait service. Requests received after 4:30 p.m. are processed on the next business day under every method.
Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
The Secretary of State’s How to Order page states: “The fee for a certificate is $25.” The same fee applies to corporations and LLCs. The new fee schedule under Act 921 of 2026 took effect October 1, 2026, and sets the expedite options below.
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online, standard (corporation or LLC) | $25 | Not published by the state |
| Mail or fax, standard | $25 | Not published by the state |
| In person, standard | $25 | Not published by the state |
| 24-hour expedite (any method) | $25 plus $35 expedite | Within 24 hours |
| Priority expedite | $25 plus $60 expedite | While you wait |
A $5 statutory convenience fee applies to any credit card payment. Orders received after 4:30 p.m. are processed the next business day. See the fee schedule effective October 1, 2026 for the full list of Commercial Division charges.
How to Check Louisiana Good Standing Status for Free
The Louisiana Commercial Database is free to search. Enter the business name or charter number to see the entity’s current status on the state record. The search result is not a certificate: when a bank, lender or another state asks for a certificate, send the sealed document from the Commercial Division.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of the search fields, read our Louisiana business entity search guide.
How a Louisiana LLC Stays in Good Standing
Louisiana requires every corporation and LLC on file to submit an annual report to the Secretary of State. The fee schedule effective October 1, 2026 sets the annual report fee at $35. Confirm your entity’s due date with the Commercial Division before you file, since the date is tied to your entity’s record.
To keep a Louisiana LLC in good standing:
- File the annual report and pay the $35 fee each year.
- Keep a registered agent with a Louisiana street address on record, and update the Secretary of State when the agent or address changes.
- For corporations, stay current on Louisiana Department of Revenue filings so a Letter of Good Standing is available when a buyer or lender asks for one.
Compare deadlines in other states with our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Louisiana Business Is Not in Good Standing
A Louisiana corporation or LLC that misses its annual reports falls out of good standing on the Secretary of State’s record. The Commercial Division issues a Certificate of Good Standing only for an entity in good standing. To restore it:
- Search the Commercial Database to confirm the current status and the reports on record.
- File every past-due annual report.
- File Articles of Reinstatement with the Secretary of State and pay the $95 fee set by the October 1, 2026 fee schedule.
- Update the registered agent if the agent on record has resigned or moved.
- Order a new Certificate of Good Standing once the record shows the entity as active.
For a broader view of the process, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Louisiana Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
Louisiana has two documents that use the words “good standing.” The Secretary of State’s Certificate of Good Standing covers the entity’s corporate record: annual reports filed and status active. The Louisiana Department of Revenue issues a separate Letter of Good Standing for corporations, covering tax accounts.
The Department of Revenue handles these letters through the Special Collection Unit of its Collection Division. Request it when a buyer, lender or contract asks for proof that the corporation has no outstanding Louisiana tax issues. Instructions are on the Louisiana Department of Revenue Letter of Good Standing page.
Using a Louisiana Certificate in Another State
To register your Louisiana LLC or corporation as a foreign entity in another state, that state’s filing office asks for a current Certificate of Good Standing from Louisiana with the application. Order the $25 certificate shortly before you file so the date on it is current. To see how the two documents relate, read certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much is a Certificate of Good Standing in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Secretary of State charges $25 per certificate for corporations and LLCs. A $5 statutory convenience fee applies to credit card payments. Expedited service adds $35 for 24-hour processing or $60 for priority while-you-wait service.
How long does it take to get a Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing?
The Secretary of State does not publish a standard processing time. The 24-hour expedite option costs $35 and priority while-you-wait service costs $60. Requests received after 4:30 p.m. are processed the next business day.
Can I order a Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing by mail or fax?
Yes. The Commercial Division accepts orders online, by mail, by fax and in person. Mail and fax requests need the entity name, charter number and payment.
Is the Louisiana Department of Revenue Letter of Good Standing the same document?
No. The Secretary of State’s certificate covers the entity’s filing record, while the Department of Revenue’s Letter of Good Standing covers corporate tax accounts. The Letter of Good Standing comes from the Special Collection Unit of the Department of Revenue’s Collection Division.
What does it cost to reinstate a Louisiana LLC?
Articles of Reinstatement cost $95 under the Secretary of State fee schedule effective October 1, 2026. You also file the missed annual reports. Once the record shows active, you can order a new Certificate of Good Standing.
Fees verified against official Louisiana sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Louisiana Secretary of State site before you order.
