In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Maine
Maine’s certificate of good standing is called a Certificate of Existence. The Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, issues it for corporations, LLCs, LPs and LLPs. Order it online through the InforME Corporate Search service and download it as a PDF right after payment, or request it by mail. The state fee is $30. Paper requests follow the Secretary of State’s 10 to 15 business day processing time.
- Official name: Certificate of Existence (the state’s good standing certificate)
- Issued by: Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions
- Fee: $30 for business corporations, LLCs, LPs and LLPs; $10 for nonprofit corporations
- How to order: Online through the InforME Corporate Search service, or by mail
- Turnaround: Online: PDF download after payment, re-download free for 15 days. Mail: 10 to 15 business days
- Free status check: Search the Secretary of State’s Corporate Search database at no cost
- What keeps you in good standing: Annual Report by June 1 ($85 domestic, $150 foreign) and a registered agent or clerk on record
When a bank or another state asks a Maine company for a certificate of good standing, the document to order is the Certificate of Existence. Maine does not issue a document titled “Certificate of Good Standing”; the Certificate of Existence fills that role, and the state’s own portal labels it “Certificates of Existence – Good Standing.” Below are the order steps, the $30 fee, and the June 1 Annual Report rule that decides whether the state can issue one. For other states, see how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Maine Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Maine Certificate of Existence is an official statement from the Secretary of State that a business corporation, LLC, limited partnership or limited liability partnership exists on the state’s records. It is the document Maine businesses send whenever a third party asks for a certificate of good standing.
Maine also issues a Certificate of Fact for $30, which is a different document. Order the Certificate of Existence unless the requester names a Certificate of Fact.
Who asks for a Maine Certificate of Existence:
- Banks opening an account or approving a loan for a Maine LLC or corporation
- Secretaries of state in other states, when a Maine entity registers there as a foreign entity
- Commercial lenders and equipment finance companies
- Payment processors and marketplaces verifying a seller
- Buyers and their counsel during an acquisition
- State and municipal licensing boards
How to Order a Certificate of Existence in Maine
The fastest route is the online InforME Corporate Search service, where the Secretary of State lists “Download Certificates of Existence – Good Standing (Fee).”
- Open the Maine Corporate Search and search by entity name or charter number.
- Select your LLC or corporation from the results and confirm the status shown.
- Choose the option to download a Certificate of Existence.
- Pay the fee by card through InforME.
- Download the certificate as a PDF. You can download it again at no charge for 15 days.
By mail: send a written request for a Certificate of Existence, with the entity name, charter number and the $30 fee, to the Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions. The Secretary of State’s Miscellaneous Services page lists the fees for paper requests. The Secretary of State states a 10 to 15 business day processing time for corporate filings sent on paper.
Maine Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
The $30 fee is set in the Secretary of State’s Miscellaneous Services table and in statute: 13-C MRSA §123 for corporations and 31 MRSA §1680 for LLCs. The InforME online page does not print the dollar amount, so confirm the total at checkout.
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online download (corporation, LLC, LP or LLP) | $30 | PDF available after payment; free re-download for 15 days |
| Mail request (corporation, LLC, LP or LLP) | $30 | 10 to 15 business days |
| Nonprofit corporation Certificate of Existence | $10 | Same as the method used |
| Certificate of Fact | $30 | Same as the method used |
| Expedited service, 24 hours | $50 added to the fee | Within 24 hours |
| Expedited service, immediate | $100 added to the fee | Immediate |
The Secretary of State’s fee table lists the $50 and $100 expedite fees without naming the services they apply to. Ask the Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions before you add an expedite fee to a mail request.
How to Check Maine Good Standing Status for Free
The Maine Corporate Search is free to search. Look up the entity by name or charter number to see whether it is active on the state’s records before you pay for a certificate. If the search shows the entity as administratively dissolved or revoked, fix that first, because a Certificate of Existence reflects the record as it stands.
Our Maine business entity search guide explains each search field and status label.
How a Maine LLC Stays in Good Standing
Every Maine LLC and corporation files an Annual Report with the Secretary of State. The filing window opens January 1 and the report is due June 1 each year. The fee is $85 for domestic LLCs and corporations and $150 for foreign entities registered in Maine. The Secretary of State posts its filing requirement reminders for the year.
- File the Annual Report between January 1 and June 1.
- If you miss June 1, pay the $50 late filing penalty promptly. Failure to pay it leads to administrative dissolution for a domestic entity or revocation for a foreign one.
- Keep a registered agent on record. Maine corporations name a clerk, and failure to maintain the registered agent or clerk is a separate ground for dissolution.
- Update the registered agent filing when your agent or address changes.
See how Maine compares with other states in our guide to annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Maine Business Is Not in Good Standing
A Maine LLC or corporation that has been administratively dissolved can file for reinstatement with the Secretary of State. The fees are set in 31 MRSA §1680 for LLCs and 13-C MRSA §123 for corporations.
- Search the Corporate Search database to confirm the entity’s status.
- File every missed Annual Report with its fee.
- Pay the $150 reinstatement fee for failure to file annual reports. That fee is capped at $600 in total.
- Pay a separate $150 fee for each other ground that applies: failure to pay the late filing penalty, or failure to maintain a registered agent or clerk.
- Appoint a registered agent if the dissolution was for lack of one.
- Order a new Certificate of Existence once the record shows the entity as active.
Our guide on how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC walks through the general process.
Using a Maine Certificate in Another State
When a Maine LLC or corporation registers to do business in another state, that state asks for proof that the entity exists at home. A Maine Certificate of Existence is that proof, even though the other state’s form calls it a certificate of good standing. Download a fresh PDF for the application. For more on the documents involved, see certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Maine Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
Does Maine issue a Certificate of Good Standing?
Maine issues a Certificate of Existence, which is the state’s certificate of good standing. The Secretary of State’s online service labels it “Certificates of Existence – Good Standing.” Send it whenever a bank or another state asks for a Maine certificate of good standing.
How much does a Maine Certificate of Existence cost?
The fee is $30 for business corporations, LLCs, LPs and LLPs, and $10 for nonprofit corporations. The fee is set in the Secretary of State’s fee table and in statute. Expedited service costs $50 for 24 hours or $100 for immediate service.
How fast can I get a Maine Certificate of Existence?
Online orders through the InforME Corporate Search service produce a PDF right after payment, and you can download it again free for 15 days. Paper requests follow the Secretary of State’s 10 to 15 business day processing time.
When is the Maine Annual Report due?
The Annual Report is due June 1 each year, and the filing window opens January 1. The fee is $85 for domestic LLCs and corporations and $150 for foreign entities. A late report carries a $50 penalty.
How much does it cost to reinstate a Maine LLC?
Reinstatement after failure to file annual reports costs $150, capped at $600 in total, plus the missed reports. Separate $150 fees apply for failure to pay the late penalty or failure to maintain a registered agent. The fees come from 31 MRSA section 1680.
Fees verified against official Maine sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Maine Secretary of State site before you order.
