Texas Certificate of Good Standing
What most states call a Certificate of Good Standing is called a Certificate of Fact - Status in Texas. This document, which is issued by the Texas Secretary of State's Office, confirms that an LLC, corporation, or other registered business entity legally exists and is authorized to transact business in Texas.
What Information Does A Certificate of Fact Contain?
A Certificate of Fact contains information verifying an entity's existence and authorization to do business in Texas. It also provides the entity's legal business name and date of formation.
A Texas Certificate of Fact may also contain other information depending on the specific request. Along with information about the business's existence and authorization to operate, the certificate can include information about mergers, name changes, and registered agent history.
Is a Certificate of Fact a Legal Requirement in Texas?
A Certificate of Fact is not a legal requirement for businesses in Texas, but there are certain circumstances that may require one, such as when a business wants to:
- Buy business insurance;
- Apply for a business loan;
- Open a business bank account;
- Register the business in another state; or
- Enter into a contractual agreement with other business entities.
How Soon Do You Need a Certificate of Fact?
Banks and insurance companies commonly ask for a business's Certificate of Fact before doing business with the company, so it is practical to request one before a transaction depends on it.
How Long is The Certificate of Fact Valid?
A Texas Certificate of Fact has no expiration date. However, the entities that request the Certificate of Fact may have their own criteria for how recent the certificate must be.
How Do I Obtain a Certificate of Fact?
If a business is up to date and in compliance with applicable filing requirements, it can request a Certificate of Fact from the Texas Secretary of State's Office online or in person, or by fax, mail, email, or phone.
The process for requesting a Certificate of Fact online is the fastest and only takes about 1-2 hours, while a request made by other means can take as long as 2 business days.
After submitting the request online, the requester receives an alert when the Certificate of Fact is ready. Once that alert arrives, the requester can visit the Secretary of State's website to view and print the document.
How Much Does a Certificate of Fact Cost?
The cost to obtain a Certificate of Fact - Status from the Texas Secretary of State's Office is $15. Texas also offers a $25 long-form Certificate of Existence that includes a list of filings.
Note: A Certificate of Fact - Status, which is offered by the Texas Secretary of State's Office and is official evidence of a business's legal existence or authorization to transact business in Texas, should not be confused with a Certificate of Account Status. The Certificate of Account Status is issued by the Texas Comptroller regarding franchise tax account status and was formerly called a Certificate of Good Standing.