In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Delaware
The Delaware Department of State, Division of Corporations, issues the Delaware Certificate of Good Standing. A short form certificate costs $50 and a long form costs $175. Order online through the Division’s eCorp Document Filing and Certificate Request service, or by mail. Standard requests are returned by first-class mail. Expedite options run from 24-hour service for $40 extra on a short form to 1-hour service for $1,000. Paying the annual tax on time keeps you eligible.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing (short form certificate of status; long form Certificate of Good Standing)
- Issued by: Delaware Department of State, Division of Corporations
- Fee: $50 short form; $175 long form (domestic entities only); expedite fees extra
- How to order: Online through the eCorp Document Filing and Certificate Request service, or by mail
- Turnaround: Standard requests returned by first-class mail; 24-hour, same day, 2-hour and 1-hour expedite available
- Free status check: The Delaware Division of Corporations entity search
- What keeps you in good standing: For LLCs, the $400 annual tax paid by June 1; for corporations, the annual report and franchise tax by March 1
A Delaware certificate of good standing is the document investors, banks and other states ask for when they deal with a Delaware company. Delaware’s ordering system works differently from most states: you submit a request, and the Division sends an invoice with the completed certificate. This page covers the short and long forms, every expedite fee and how to keep your Delaware LLC in good standing. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Delaware Certificate of Good Standing is an official document from the Division of Corporations confirming that your LLC or corporation exists on the state’s records and is current with its annual tax obligations. Delaware issues two versions:
- Short form: a certificate of status confirming the entity exists and is in good standing. It costs $50.
- Long form: available for domestic Delaware entities only. It lists the entity’s filed documents and name changes in addition to its standing. It costs $175.
Order the short form unless the requester asks for the entity’s filing history, which only the long form shows. Banks ask for a certificate when you open a business account, and lenders, payment processors, licensing agencies, buyers and investors in due diligence ask for one too. Other states require a certificate when you register your Delaware entity there as a foreign business.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Delaware
Delaware takes online certificate requests through its eCorp Document Filing and Certificate Request service. Follow these steps:
- Open the Document Filing and Certificate Request service on the Division of Corporations site.
- Identify your entity by its exact name and Delaware file number. Look up the file number in the free entity search if you do not have it.
- Request a short form or long form Certificate of Good Standing.
- Select an expedite level if you need one: 24-hour, same day, 2-hour or 1-hour.
- Submit the request. The service does not calculate fees. The Division sends an invoice with the completed request.
Ordering by Mail
You can also mail a certificate request to the Division of Corporations. Standard requests are returned by first-class mail unless you provide a FedEx or UPS account number. The Division does not return certificates by fax or email. Ordering instructions are on the Division of Corporations certificate request page.
The Division also sells an online status check for $10 (status only) or $20 (status, tax and history). That check does not produce a certificate, so do not buy it when a bank or another state has asked for a Certificate of Good Standing.
Delaware Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Short form, standard (LLC or corporation) | $50 | Returned by first-class mail |
| Short form, 24-hour expedite | $50 plus $40 | 24 hours |
| Short form, same day expedite | $50 plus $50 | Same day |
| Long form, standard (domestic only) | $175 | Returned by first-class mail |
| Long form, 24-hour expedite | $175 plus $60 | 24 hours |
| Long form, same day expedite | $175 plus $80 | Same day |
| 2-hour expedite (per request) | Certificate fee plus $500 | 2 hours |
| 1-hour expedite (per request) | Certificate fee plus $1,000 | 1 hour |
The 24-hour and same day fees apply per file number. The 2-hour and 1-hour fees apply per request.
How to Check Delaware Good Standing Status for Free
The Delaware Division of Corporations entity search is free. Search by entity name or file number to confirm the entity’s exact name and file number before you order. For a full status, tax and history report, the Division charges for its online status service, as described above. For a walkthrough of the search screens, read our Delaware business entity search guide.
How a Delaware LLC Stays in Good Standing
Delaware LLCs do not file an annual report. Instead, every Delaware LLC pays an annual tax of $400 for the prior year, due on or before June 1. A late payment adds a $200 penalty plus interest of 1.5% per month. Payment details are on the Division of Corporations LLC tax instructions page.
Delaware corporations carry more duties. The annual report and franchise tax are due March 1. The annual report filing fee is $50. The minimum franchise tax is $175 under the authorized shares method or $400 under the assumed par value capital method. A late report adds a $200 penalty, and unpaid tax accrues 1.5% interest per month.
Every Delaware entity also needs a registered agent with a Delaware address to receive legal papers and state notices. For a founder who lives outside Delaware, a professional registered agent receives those documents and forwards them, so no deadline passes unnoticed. To compare schedules in other states, see our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Delaware Business Is Not in Good Standing
An unpaid annual tax or missing annual report takes a Delaware entity out of good standing. Take these steps:
- LLC: pay every overdue $400 annual tax, plus the $200 penalty and 1.5% monthly interest, then contact the Division of Corporations to confirm the entity’s status.
- Corporation: file the missing annual report and pay all tax due. Contact the Franchise Tax Section at 302-739-3073 before filing a renewal.
- Order a new Certificate of Good Standing once the Division confirms the entity is current.
For the general process, read how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Using a Delaware Certificate in Another State
When your Delaware entity operates in another state, that state’s filing office asks for proof of good standing in Delaware before you can register there as a foreign entity. Order the short form unless the receiving state asks for the long form. Order it with 24-hour expedite if you face a filing deadline, and check the receiving state’s age limit on certificates. Learn how the two documents work together in our guide to certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Delaware Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much does a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing cost?
A short form certificate costs $50 and a long form costs $175. Expedite fees are extra, from $40 for 24-hour service on a short form to $1,000 for 1-hour service.
What is the difference between the Delaware short form and long form?
The short form confirms the entity exists and is in good standing. The long form, available for domestic entities only, also lists the entity’s filed documents and name changes.
How fast can I get a Delaware Certificate of Good Standing?
Standard requests are returned by first-class mail. Expedited requests are available as 24-hour, same day, 2-hour and 1-hour service, each for an added fee.
Does the Delaware online status check give me a certificate?
No. The $10 status check and the $20 status, tax and history check do not produce a certificate. Order the certificate through the Document Filing and Certificate Request service or by mail.
What keeps a Delaware LLC in good standing?
A Delaware LLC must pay its $400 annual tax on or before June 1. A late payment adds a $200 penalty and 1.5% monthly interest. Delaware LLCs do not file an annual report.
Fees verified against official Delaware sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Delaware Division of Corporations site before you order.
