HOW TO GET WISCONSIN SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFIED COPIES ONLINE
What is a Certified Copy of a Wisconsin Business Document?
A
Wisconsin Certified Copy is a copy of a Business Document which includes an endorsement,
with an accompanying Certificate or Seal, of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions which states that the document is a true copy of the Business Document originally filed
with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
A Certified Copy of a Wisconsin Business Document also includes the date that the Document was Certified by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
A
Wisconsin Certified Copy of a Business Document is normally a photocopy.
A
Wisconsin Certified Copy bears the signature of a representative of the WI Department of Financial Institutions.
When the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions issues a
Certified Copy of a Corporate Document, this means that
the
Wisconsin Certified Copy is a true, accurate and valid copy of the WI Corporate Document
that the Department of Financial Institutions has on file.
A Copy of a Wisconsin Document which is Certified by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is legal and official proof that the
Certified Document is authentic.
What is a Plain Copy of a Wisconsin Business Document?
explain
A Plain Copy of a Wisconsin Business Document is just what the name implies.
It is simply a photocopy of a Business Document.
There are no endorsements, stamps or seals on a Plain Copy of a Wisconsin Business Document.
Most legal, government and financial institutions require Certified Copies of Business Documents rather than Plain Copies when dealing
with official matters.
Why would I need a Certified Copy of a Wisconsin Business Document?
explain
Some of the reasons why you might need a Wisconsin Certified Copy of your Business Documents:
- Bank loans
- Tax filings
- Foreign Business qualification
- Replace original WI Business Documents
- Provide legal proof of Wisconsin Business Registration
If you are responsible for the Business records of a Wisconsin Corporation or a Wisconsin LLC it is important to retain on file Certified Copies of
your Formation Documents - your Articles of Incorporation for Corporations or your Articles of Organization for LLCs; as well as
all Amendments to your original Articles.
Can I get a Certified Copy of a Wisconsin Good Standing Certificate?
explain
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
issues a Good Standing Certificate ,called a Certificate of Status in WI, to Wisconsin
Corporations and LLCs which are up to date with all administrative requirements.
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions will Certify any Business Document which has been
filed with that office.
On the other hand, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions generally does not Certify Documents which are
issued by that office.
So, no the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions will not Certify a Good Standing Certificate or any other document which is
issued by
that office.
Wisconsin Certified Copies for a Company that wants to do business in a different state
explain
A Corporation or LLC which is registered in one state and wants to do business in another state must first qualify as a "Foreign Corporation"
or a "Foreign LLC" in the state in which it wants to do business.
For example, a Corporation or LLC that is registered in Wisconsin wants to do business in California.
The Wisconsin Corporation or LLC must qualify as a California Foreign Corporation or LLC.
Some states require a
Certified Copy of the formation documents,
called Articles of Incorporation for a Corporation or Articles of Organization for an LLC, from the Foreign Corporation's home state.
How long does it take to get a Wisconsin Certified Copy of a Business Document?
explain
We can get your Wisconsin Certified Copies within 7-10 business days for $45.00 plus state Document fees.
If you need your Wisconsin Certified Copies quicker we can usually get them from the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions within 2-3 business days for $89.00 plus state Document fees.
(Our expedited processing fee also includes any additional state fees for the WI Department of Financial Institutions's expedited process.)
Depending on the Document, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions may take longer to Certify Business Documents filed more than around ten
years in the past.
PLEASE NOTE:
WE CANNOT GUARANTEE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PROCESSING TIMES
We are dependent on, and have no control over, the staff and systems of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
We get your Wisconsin Certified Copies order to the WI Department of Financial Institutions as soon as possible after we receive your order.
Once it is at the state we have no control over Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions processing times.
The processing times specified on this web page are the times it
usually takes the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions to process
orders for Certified Copies of Business Documents.
How much does it cost to get a Wisconsin Certified Copy Online?
explain
The WI Department of Financial Institutions charges $10.00 for each Certified Copy of a Business Document.
We charge a processing fee of $45.00 for our standard processing.
We can usually get your Wisconsin Certified Copies in 7-10 business days with our standard processing.
With our expedited processing option we can usually get your Wisconsin Certified Copies within 2-3 business days.
Can you get copies of my Wisconsin Birth Certificate or Marriage License?
explain
No. We cannot get copies of vital records such as Wisconsin Birth Certificates or Marriage Licenses.
For those kinds of documents you will have to contact the County Clerk in the Wisconsin County in which the Documents were issued.
How can I order Wisconsin Certified Copies of Business Documents online?
If you are ready to order Wisconsin Certified Copies online now just fill in the form below and click Place Order.
As soon as we receive your order for Wisconsin Certified Copies we will start processing it immediately.
WISCONSIN CERTIFIED COPY ORDER FORM