What is a Subsistence Certificate?
A Subsistence Certificate is Pennsylvania's name for the document most states call a Certificate of Good Standing. Issued by the Pennsylvania Department of State, it confirms that your LLC, corporation, or other registered entity is in good standing on the Commonwealth's records. The legal effect is identical to a Certificate of Good Standing from any other state.
Only Pennsylvania calls it a Subsistence Certificate
The term “subsistence” comes from older corporate law — the question of whether an entity continues to legally subsist as a recognized entity of the Commonwealth. Other states call this same document a Certificate of Good Standing, Certificate of Existence, Certificate of Status, Certificate of Legal Existence, or Standing Certificate.
Subsistence Certificate vs. Certificate of Good Standing
No functional difference. A Pennsylvania Subsistence Certificate will satisfy any out-of-state request for a Certificate of Good Standing from a PA entity. Banks and landlords are familiar with the alternate name.
- · Issuing office: Pennsylvania Department of State (Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations)
- · State filing fee and our total: on the Pennsylvania page, from our state data
- · Processing time: set by the state; see the Pennsylvania page
- · Requesters often want it dated within 90 days (most banks prefer within 30)
- · Required compliance: current Decennial Report (every 10 years), registered office on file
A Subsistence Certificate is a Certificate of Good Standing under another name. Price, processing time and how to order are on the state page: Pennsylvania.
Get your Pennsylvania Subsistence Certificate.
From $65, state filing fee included. Processing time is set by each state; see your state's page.