What is a Certificate of Legal Existence?
Certificate of Legal Existence is Connecticut's name for what most states call a Certificate of Good Standing. Issued by the Connecticut Secretary of the State, the document confirms that your LLC or corporation is properly registered and current with state filings. The substance is identical to a Certificate of Good Standing from any other state.
Only one state uses “Certificate of Legal Existence”
Connecticut is the lone holdout with this terminology. Other states use Certificate of Good Standing, Certificate of Existence, Certificate of Status, Subsistence Certificate, or Standing Certificate. Every one of them is the same document for the same purpose.
Certificate of Legal Existence vs. Certificate of Good Standing
No functional difference. Banks, landlords, courts, and other states accept the two interchangeably. The Connecticut Certificate of Legal Existence will satisfy any out-of-state request for a Connecticut entity's Certificate of Good Standing.
- · Issuing office: Connecticut Secretary of the State (business.ct.gov)
- · State filing fee: $50 standard, $100 expedited (24-hour)
- · Standard turnaround: 3 – 5 business days
- · Expedited turnaround: 24 hours
- · Validity window: 90 days from issue (most banks prefer within 30)
- · Required compliance: current annual report, current franchise tax, registered agent on file
Get your Connecticut Certificate of Legal Existence.
From $75, state filing fee included. Standard 3 – 5 business days, expedited 24-hour available.