Certified copies of business entity documents
Business entities, companies, and corporations are usually required to provide certified copies of their company records. Certified Copies are true and correct copies of business filings, which can be obtained from the office where you filed the documents. Each state has different departments or offices to process the certified copy request.
Examples of certified copies of business entity documents that you might want on hand include:
Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Formation
Certificate of Incorporation
Certificate of Existence
Articles of Amendment
Good standing certificate
Annual report
Certificate of Authority
Other documents filed with the Secretary of State
Apostille and Authentication of Certified Copies
In case your business documents are requested by foreign countries, a certification process should be completed after you obtain your certified copies. There are two types of certificates: Apostille and Authentication. Apostilles are issued to documents intended for use in Hague Apostille countries. Certificates of Authentication are issued to countries that are Non-Hague Apostille countries.
🛎 For Hague Apostille countries, order the apostille service.
🛎 For Non-Hague Apostille countries, order the multi-step authentication service.
Obtain certified copies of business entity documents in 50 states & DC
FYI, below is the information about getting certified copies of business entities in 50 states and DC.
1. Alabama Certified Copies
Website: http://sos.alabama.gov/
Name Search: http://sos.alabama.gov/government-records/business-entity-records
Forms: https://www.sos.alabama.gov/business-entities/business-downloads
Online Filing: https://www.alabamainteractive.org/sos/welcome.action
2. Alaska Certified Copies
Website: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/corporations.aspx
Name Search: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cbp/main/search/entities
Forms: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/Corporations/CorpFormsFees.aspx
Online Filing: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/Corporations/CorpFormsFees.aspx
Email: corporations@alaska.gov
3. Arizona Certified Copies
Website: https://www.azcc.gov/
Name Search: https://ecorp.azcc.gov/EntitySearch/Index
Forms: http://www.azcc.gov/Divisions/Corporations/forms/formsindex.asp
Online Filing: https://ecorp.azcc.gov/AzAccount?sessionExpired=False
Email: filings.corp@azcc.gov
4. Arkansas Certified Copies
Website: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/BCS/Pages/default.aspx
Name Search: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/corps/search_all.php
Forms: https://www.ark.org/sos/ofs/docs/index.php
Online Filing: https://www.ark.org/sos/ofs/docs/index.php
Email: corprequest@sos.arkansas.gov
5. California Certified Copies
Website: http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/
Name Search: https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business
Forms: http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/be/forms.htm
Online Filing: https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/bizfile/file-online/
6. Colorado Certified Copies
Website: https://www.coloradosos.gov/
Name Search: https://www.coloradosos.gov/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do
Online Filing: https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/business/fileAForm.html
Email: business@sos.state.co.us
7. Connecticut Certified Copies
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/sots
Name Search: https://service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch?language=en_US
Forms: https://business.ct.gov/manage/all-business-filings?language=en_US
Online Filing: https://business.ct.gov/
Email: crd@ct.gov
8. Delaware Certified Copies
Website: https://corp.delaware.gov/
Name Search: https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/Ecorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx
Forms: http://corp.delaware.gov/corpforms.shtml
Online Filing: https://onestop.delaware.gov/#
Email: corp@delaware.gov
9. District of Columbia Certified Copies
Website: https://dcra.dc.gov/page/corporation-services-0
Name Search: https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/Account.aspx/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fHome.aspx
Forms: https://eservices.dcra.dc.gov/DocumentManagementSystem
Online Filing: https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/Account.aspx/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2f
Email: dcra@dc.gov
10. Florida Certified Copies
Website: http://www.sunbiz.org/index.html
Name Search: https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/search/
Forms: http://www.sunbiz.org/downloads.html
Online Filing: https://efile.sunbiz.org/onlmenu.html
Email: corphelp@dos.state.fl.us
11. Georgia Certified Copies
Website: http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/?section=corporations
Name Search: https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch
Forms: http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/?section=corporations
Online Filing: https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/Account
12. Hawaii Certified Copies
Website: http://cca.hawaii.gov/breg/
Name Search: https://hbe.ehawaii.gov/documents/search.html;jsessionid=8EF56F1402F4FEA97CA5FF46E7F5F99D.liona
Forms: http://cca.hawaii.gov/breg/registration/
Online Filing: https://hbe.ehawaii.gov/BizEx/home.eb
Email: breg@dcca.hawaii.gov
13. Idaho Certified Copies
Website: http://www.sos.idaho.gov/
Name Search: https://sosbiz.idaho.gov/search/business
Online Filing: https://sosbiz.idaho.gov/forms/business
Email: sosinfo@sos.idaho.gov
14. Illinois Certified Copies
Website: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/business_services/home.html
Name Search: http://www.ilsos.gov/corporatellc/
Forms: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/business_services/
Online Filing: https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/business_services/business_not-for-profit/home.html
15. Indiana Certified Copies
Website: http://www.in.gov/sos/business/index.htm
Name Search: https://bsd.sos.in.gov/publicbusinesssearch
Forms: http://www.in.gov/sos/business/2426.htm
Online Filing: https://inbiz.in.gov/BOS/Home/Index
16. Iowa Certified Copies
Website: http://sos.iowa.gov/
Name Search: http://sos.iowa.gov/search/business/(S(3llohx55fq4r02555yhyoveb))/search.aspx
Forms: http://sos.iowa.gov/business/FormsAndFees.html
Online Filing: https://sos.iowa.gov/file/origination/index.aspx
Email: sos@sos.iowa.gov
17. Kansas Certified Copies
Website: https://sos.ks.gov/
Name Search: https://www.kansas.gov/bess/flow/main;jsessionid=CA85ED554BD3D68D8977CE9F2A3D4272.aptcs03-inst1?execution=e1s1
Forms: https://sos.ks.gov/forms/forms_results.aspx?division=BS
Online Filing: https://sos.ks.gov/forms/forms_results.aspx?division=BS&orderby=online
Email: corp@sos.ks.gov
18. Kentucky Certified Copies
Website: https://www.sos.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Name Search: https://web.sos.ky.gov/ftsearch/
Forms: https://www.sos.ky.gov/bus/Forms/Pages/default.aspx
Online Filing: https://secure.kentucky.gov/sos/ftbr/welcome.aspx
19. Louisiana Certified Copies
Website: http://www.sos.la.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Name Search: https://coraweb.sos.la.gov/CommercialSearch/CommercialSearch.aspx
Online Filing: http://www.sos.la.gov/BusinessServices/FileBusinessDocuments/Pages/default.aspx
20. Maine Certified Copies
Website: http://maine.gov/sos/cec/corp/index.html
Name Search: https://icrs.informe.org/nei-sos-icrs/ICRS?MainPage=x
Forms: http://maine.gov/sos/cec/corp/corp.html
Online Filing: https://icrs.informe.org/nei-sos-icrs/ICRS
21. Maryland Certified Copies
Website: https://dat.maryland.gov/pages/default.aspx
Name Search: https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/EntitySearch
Forms: http://dat.maryland.gov/Pages/sdatforms.aspx#BNE
Online Filing: https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress
Email: SDAT.CharterHelp@Maryland.gov
22. Massachusetts Certified Copies
Website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cor/coridx.htm
Name Search: http://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corpweb/corpsearch/CorpSearch.aspx
Forms: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cor/functionality/walkinmail.htm
Online Filing: https://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corp/loginsystem/login_form.asp?FilingMethod=I
Email: cis@sec.state.ma.us
23. Michigan Certified Copies
Website: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-35299_61343_35413---,00.html
Name Search: https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/SearchApi/Search/Search
Forms: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-61343_35413_36736---,00.html
Online Filing: https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/corpweb/LoginSystem/ExternalLogin.aspx
Email: corpsmail@michigan.gov
24. Minnesota Certified Copies
Website: https://www.sos.state.mn.us/
Name Search: http://mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us/
Forms: https://www.sos.state.mn.us/business-liens/business-forms-fees/
Online Filing: https://mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us/
Email: business.services@state.mn.us
25. Mississippi Certified Copies
Website: https://www.sos.ms.gov/
Name Search: https://corp.sos.ms.gov/corp/portal/c/page/corpbusinessidsearch/portal.aspx?#clear=1
Online Filing: https://corp.sos.ms.gov/corp/portal/c/page/login/portal.aspx
26. Missouri Certified Copies
Website: http://www.sos.mo.gov/business/corporations/
Name Search: https://bsd.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/BESearch.aspx?SearchType=0
Forms: http://www.sos.mo.gov/business/corporations/forms.asp
Online Filing: https://bsd.sos.mo.gov/loginwelcome.aspx?lobID=1
Email: info@sos.mo.gov
27. Montana Certified Copies
Website: http://sos.mt.gov/Business/index.asp
Name Search: https://biz.sosmt.gov/search/business
Online Filing: https://biz.sosmt.gov/
Email: sosbusiness@mt.gov
28. Nebraska Certified Copies
Website: https://sos.nebraska.gov/
Name Search: https://www.nebraska.gov/sos/corp/corpsearch.cgi?nav=search
Forms: https://sos.nebraska.gov/business-services/forms-and-fee-information
Online Filing: https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-edocs/
Email: sos.corp@nebraska.gov
29. Nevada Certified Copies
Website: https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/home
Name Search: https://esos.nv.gov/EntitySearch/OnlineEntitySearch/
Forms: https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/businesses/commercial-recordings/forms-fees/all-business-forms
Online Filing: https://www.nvsilverflume.gov/home
Email: sosfilings@sos.nv.gov
30. New Hampshire Certified Copies
Website: https://sos.nh.gov/corporation-ucc-securities/corporation/corporation-ucc-and-securities/
Name Search: https://quickstart.sos.nh.gov/online/BusinessInquire
Forms: https://sos.nh.gov/corporation-ucc-securities/corporation/forms-and-fees/
Online Filing: https://quickstart.sos.nh.gov/online/Account/LandingPage
Email: corporate@sos.nh.gov
31. New Jersey Certified Copies
Website: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury
Name Search: https://www.njportal.com/DOR/BusinessNameSearch/Search/BusinessName
Online Filing: https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/index.shtml
32. New Mexico Certified Copies
Website: https://www.sos.state.nm.us/business-services/
Name Search: https://portal.sos.state.nm.us/BFS/online/corporationbusinesssearch
Online Filing: https://portal.sos.state.nm.us/BFS/online/Account
Email: Business.Services@state.nm.us
33. New York Certified Copies
Website: https://dos.ny.gov/division-corporations-state-records-and-uniform-commercial-code
Name Search: https://apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry/#search
Forms: https://dos.ny.gov/existing-corporations-and-businesses
Online Filing: https://appext20.dos.ny.gov/ecorp_public/f?p=201:17
Email: corporations@dos.ny.gov
34. North Carolina Certified Copies
Website: https://www.sosnc.gov/divisions/Business_Registration
Name Search: https://www.sosnc.gov/online_services/search/by_title/_Business_Registration
Forms: https://www.sosnc.gov/forms/by_title/_Business_Registration_Business_Entities_Common
Online Filing: https://www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/online_business_services
35. North Dakota Certified Copies
Website: http://www.nd.gov/sos/
Name Search: https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/business
Forms: http://sos.nd.gov/business/business-services
Online Filing: https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/
Email: sosbir@nd.gov
36. Ohio Certified Copies
Website: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/
Name Search: https://businesssearch.ohiosos.gov/
Forms: https://www.sos.state.oh.us/businesses/filing-forms--fee-schedule/
Online Filing: https://bsportal.ohiosos.gov/(S(2arso2uqrjmc5mfchaooknzj))/default.aspx
37. Oklahoma Certified Copies
Website: https://www.sos.ok.gov/business/default.aspx
Name Search: https://www.sos.ok.gov/corp/corpInquiryFind.aspx
Forms: https://www.sos.ok.gov/business/forms.aspx
Online Filing: https://www.sos.ok.gov/corp/filing.aspx
Email: webmaster@sos.ok.gov
38. Oregon Certified Copies
Website: http://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/default.aspx
Name Search: https://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.login
Forms: http://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/business-registration-forms.aspx
Online Filing: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/cbrmanager/index.action#stay
Email: CorporationDivision.SOS@sos.oregon.gov
39. Pennsylvania Certified Copies
Website: http://www.dos.pa.gov/BusinessCharities/Pages/default.aspx
Name Search: https://www.corporations.pa.gov/search/corpsearch
Forms: http://www.dos.pa.gov/BusinessCharities/Business/RegistrationForms/Pages/default.aspx
Online Filing: https://www.corporations.pa.gov/
Email: RA-CORPS@pa.gov
40. Rhode Island Certified Copies
Website: http://sos.ri.gov/business/
Name Search: http://business.sos.ri.gov/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSearch.aspx
Forms: http://sos.ri.gov/business/filings/corporateforms/
Online Filing: http://sos.ri.gov/divisions/Business-Portal/file-online
Email: corporations@sos.ri.gov
41. South Carolina Certified Copies
Website: https://sos.sc.gov/online-filings/business-entities
Name Search: https://businessfilings.sc.gov/BusinessFiling/Entity/Search
Forms: https://businessfilings.sc.gov/businessfiling/Home/CategorizedForms
Online Filing: https://businessfilings.sc.gov/businessfiling/Home
42. South Dakota Certified Copies
Website: https://sdsos.gov/default.aspx
Name Search: https://sosenterprise.sd.gov/BusinessServices/Business/FilingSearch.aspx
Forms: https://sdsos.gov/business-services/corporations/corporate-forms/default.aspx
Online Filing: https://sosenterprise.sd.gov/BusinessServices/Default.aspx
Email: openforbiz@state.sd.us
43. Tennessee Certified Copies
Website: https://sos.tn.gov/business-services
Name Search: https://tnbear.tn.gov/ECommerce/FilingSearch.aspx
Online Filing: https://tnbear.tn.gov/ecommerce/default.aspx
Email: business.services@tn.gov
44. Texas Certified Copies
Website: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/index.shtml
Name Search: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/sosda/index.shtml
Forms: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/forms_boc.shtml
Online Filing: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/sosda/index.shtml
Email: sosdirect@sos.state.tx.us
45. Utah Certified Copies
Website: https://corporations.utah.gov/index.html
Name Search: https://secure.utah.gov/bes/action/index
Forms: http://corporations.utah.gov/business/dp.html
Online Filing: https://corporations.utah.gov/online_bus_reg.html
Email: corpucc@utah.gov
46. Vermont Certified Copies
Website: https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations/
Name Search: https://bizfilings.vermont.gov/online/BusinessInquire
Forms: https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations/fees/
Online Filing: https://www.vtsosonline.com/online/Account?referrer=AR
Email: SOS.CorporationsSupport@vermont.gov
47. Virginia Certified Copies
Website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/clk/index.aspx
Name Search: https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/EntitySearch/Index
Forms: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/clk/formfee.aspx
Online Filing: https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/
Email: sccinfo@scc.virginia.gov
48. Washington Certified Copies
Website: http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/
Name Search: http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/corps_search.aspx
Forms: http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/Forms.aspx
Online Filing: http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/
49. West Virginia Certified Copies
Website: https://sos.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Name Search: https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/
Forms: https://sos.wv.gov/Forms/Pages/default.aspx
Online Filing: https://business4.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Email: business@wvsos.com
50. Wisconsin Certified Copies
Website: http://www.wdfi.org/corporations/
Name Search: https://www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch/Search.aspx?
Forms: http://www.wdfi.org/corporations/forms/
Online Filing: https://www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpFormation/
Email: DFICorporations@dfi.wisconsin.gov
51. Wyoming Certified Copies
Website: http://soswy.state.wy.us/Business/Business.aspx
Name Search: https://wyobiz.wyo.gov/Business/FilingSearch.aspx
Forms: http://soswy.state.wy.us/Forms/Default.aspx
Online Filing: https://sos.wyo.gov/Business/OnlineBusinessServices.aspx
Email: business@wyo.gov
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