Certificates of Good Standing or Status

Due to a heavy volume of requests for Good Standing Certificates, you may experience a delay. If you receive an error message when processing your requests via the Online Business Service Center, please try again later.

To prevent possible delays, please verify your business name and business ID using our Online Business Search before submitting a document request.

Also known as certificates of existence or authorization, these documents confirm a business is compliant with all legal requirements to retain sole rights to its business name, and the authority to conduct business under its business name within the state of Vermont.

A certificate of good standing or status does not imply that a business is in good standing with the IRS, the Vermont Departments of Labor or Taxes, or the Vermont Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit; or that it is free and clear of any liens or pending lawsuits.

Certificates of good standing may only be obtained for entities that file annual/biennial reports. For trade names & general or limited partnerships, please request a Certificates of Status.

To generate a Certificate of Good Standing or Status:

1. Login to our Online Business Service Center (new users must first create an account)
2. From the Online Services Dashboard select the appropriate document type
3. Follow prompts to obtain certificate & pay $25.00 filing fee by credit card or e-check

Certificates of Good Standing are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

To verify a Certificate of Good Standing:

1. Go to the Online Business Service Center
2. Enter the “Certificate Number” number (bottom corner of certificate)
3. Confirm your certificate matches the image displayed

If you are given a certificate that does not have a verification number or looks different, it may be a fraud. Please contact our office at 802-828-1916 for an over-the-phone verification.