How to get a Certificate of Existence from the Alabama Secretary of StateA Certificate of Status in the state of Alabama is called a Certificate of Existence. You can order by phone, email, fax, mail, or in person, but we recommend calling. Normal processing takes up to 5 days, plus additional time for mailing, and costs $10 (less for non-profit). Expedited service is available for $25 more (less for non-profit) and should take less than 2 days, plus additional time for mailing. Note: A Certificate of Good Standing is different in the State of Alabama than a Certificate of Existence and can be requested online through the Department of Revenue. A Certificate of Good Standing gets confused often in Alabama. What is confusing, is if you are from Alabama, people ask you for a Certificate of Good Standing showing you have paid your taxes. If you were to register your business in Florida, Florida would need a Certificate of Good Standing, but that certificate is actually called a Certificate of Existence in Alabama. Just a little different lingo. You can orderOnline:Order on the Alabama website: By Phone:Call (334)242-5324 and request a Certificate of Existence. Have your credit card information handy. You will probably be transferred to Elaine, since she normally handles these types of requests. She is very friendly and can give you an idea of how quickly your request will be processed. Requests by phone will be expedited only if paying the additional fee and providing a Fed Ex account number. By Email:Email in your request to anyone in the Corporations Department and provide the Application for Certificate of Existence form and a daytime phone number or email for any questions, as well as your credit card information. However, they will return the certificate by regular mail unless you provide your Fed Ex account number. Requests by email will be expedited only if paying the additional fee and providing a Fed Ex account number. By Mail:Provide the Application for Certificate of Existence form and provide a pre-addressed prepaid envelope with your cover letter. Requests by mail will be expedited only if paying the additional fee and providing a Fed Ex account number. By Fax:Provide the Application for Certificate of Existence form as well as your credit card information on your fax coversheet. They will only return the certificate by regular mail unless you provide your Fed Ex account number. Requests by fax will be expedited only if paying the additional fee and providing a Fed Ex account number. In Person:Documents requested in person can usually be provided the same day, but only if paying the additional expedite fee. How much does an Alabama Certificate of Existence cost?$10 for normal processing ($1.50 for non-profit). Is expedited processing available?Yes. An expedited service fee of $100 (for profit) or $10 (for non-profit) is required, in addition to the regular $5 fee. Payment options?Check, Money Order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. How long does it take to get a Certificate of Status or Existence?
How will the Certificate of Status or Certificate of Existence come back after I order from the Alabama Secretary of State?They will fax it back to you only if you pay the expedite fee and request that they do so. Otherwise, it will be mailed by regular mail, unless you request differently and provide a pre-addressed prepaid envelope or Fed Ex account number. Return service by email is not available. If you need a Good Standing Certificate for taxes, here is the link:
Forms:Contact Info: Alabama Secretary of State |
Northwest Registered Agent Service, Inc. Agent# 940-956 Birmingham, AL 35242 Shelby County
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Alabama Certificate of Existence
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