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 it is a true copy of the Business Document.  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 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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 their 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.

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 ASAP.  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. 

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

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 ASAP. 

This Certified Copies Order Form is for Certified Copies of Business Documents which have been filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.  It is not for vital records such as birth certificates or marriage licenses.