Tennessee Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing is a formal document, which is issued by the Secretary of State (SOS) of Tennessee. The document will feature an authorized Secretary of State of Tennessee signature. It will also bear an imprint of the Tennessee state seal. A Certificate of Existence must be obtained by submitting the proper records order to the SOS.

 

Businesses in Tennessee require this document for numerous reasons. Generally speaking, it is so that they can prove they have met all applicable state of Tennessee requirements and are legally registered to do business in Tennessee. Sometimes, the document proves that a company was already dissolved or suspended within the state.

 

Keep in mind that Certificates of Existence may be obtained for companies that are not your own. You may request a certified collection of on-record filings for any entity in Tennessee. These filings may include such documents as registrations from out-of-state, conversion, articles of formation, amendments, and more.

 

When Do You Need A Certificate Of Good Standing?

 

You may need a Certificate of of Existence if you're involved in a merger or acquisition, or if you're buying a company outright, or selling yours. The Good Standing certification will form part of the legal documentation of the entity.

 

Typically, applying for a business loan or line of credit will require good standing certification. Tax matters also can require it - note that you can owe taxes and still be in good standing with Tennessee, you just can't be out of compliance with any of the tax process. Certain licensing requirements may also ask for good standing certification.

 

You may also need a Certificate of of Existence if you'd like to register to conduct business in a state other than Tennessee. At SunDoc, we are glad to assist you with the foreign qualification process.

 

Don't forget to check expirations and all full documentation requirements necessary when obtaining a Certificate of of Existence. In some states, you need to produce certified status that is no more than 60 or 30 days old.

 

Certificate Of Good Standing Or Certificate Of Existence?

 

Keep in mind that a Certificate of of Existence and a Certificate of Good Standing are the same thing. The Certificate of Status is also the same thing. 

 

These documents all prove that a given company can legally conduct business in Tennessee state. It also shows compliance with licensing requirements and corporate roles within the state. Finally, the document proves that a company has not been suspended by the Tennessee state taxing authority.

 

How To Get Your Certificate Of Existence

 

Some states offer a way to order a Certificate of of Existence electronically, in which case you can only order by mail or personally through the state office.

 

Requests presented in person can generally be processed by the second business day, while mailed-in requests take 5-15 business days. Tennessee does offer a Rush service for Good Standing requests.

 

Next Steps

 

When you need a Certificate of Existence, SunDoc will handle your filing in an expedited manner every time — just as we do with all filings. We do this by going in person to the Secretary of State office every day, whereas other companies simply mail in their filings. At the SOS office, we hand-deliver or pick up our documents. We’ll do this with any and all routine filings you may require, saving you valuable time.

 

To talk to a live voice for immediate assistance call us toll-free during business hours at  1-888-595-2747.