HOW TO GET GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFIED COPIES ONLINE
What is a Certified Copy of a Georgia Business Document?
A
Georgia Certified Copy is a copy of a Business Document which includes an endorsement,
with an accompanying Certificate or Seal, of the Georgia Secretary of State which states that the document is a true copy of the Business Document originally filed
with the Georgia Secretary of State.
A Certified Copy of a Georgia Business Document also includes the date that the Document was Certified by the Georgia Secretary of State.
A
Georgia Certified Copy of a Business Document is normally a photocopy.
A
Georgia Certified Copy bears the signature of a representative of the GA Secretary of State.
When the Georgia Secretary of State issues a
Certified Copy of a Corporate Document, this means that
the
Georgia Certified Copy is a true, accurate and valid copy of the GA Corporate Document
that the Secretary of State has on file.
A Copy of a Georgia Document which is Certified by the Georgia Secretary of State is legal and official proof that the
Certified Document is authentic.
What is a Plain Copy of a Georgia Business Document?
explain
A Plain Copy of a Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Georgia Business Document?
explain
Some of the reasons why you might need a Georgia Certified Copy of your Business Documents:
- Bank loans
- Tax filings
- Foreign Business qualification
- Replace original GA Business Documents
- Provide legal proof of Georgia Business Registration
If you are responsible for the Business records of a Georgia Corporation or a Georgia 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 Georgia Good Standing Certificate?
explain
The Georgia Secretary of State
issues a Good Standing Certificate ,called a Certificate of Existence in GA, to Georgia
Corporations and LLCs which are up to date with all administrative requirements.
The Georgia Secretary of State will Certify any Business Document which has been
filed with that office.
On the other hand, the Georgia Secretary of State generally does not Certify Documents which are
issued by that office.
So, no the Georgia Secretary of State will not Certify a Good Standing Certificate or any other document which is
issued by
that office.
Georgia 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 Georgia wants to do business in California.
The Georgia 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 Georgia Certified Copy of a Business Document?
explain
We can get your Georgia Certified Copies within 2 business days for $45.00 plus state Document fees.
If you need your Georgia Certified Copies quicker we can usually get them from the Georgia Secretary of State on the same day that you place your order, if we get your order before noon Georgia time, for $75.00 plus state Document fees.
(Our expedited processing fee also includes any additional state fees for the GA Secretary of State's expedited process.)
Depending on the Document, the Georgia Secretary of State may take longer to Certify Business Documents filed more than around ten
years in the past.
PLEASE NOTE:
WE CANNOT GUARANTEE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE PROCESSING TIMES
We are dependent on, and have no control over, the staff and systems of the Georgia Secretary of State.
We get your Georgia Certified Copies order to the GA Secretary of State as soon as possible after we receive your order.
Once it is at the state we have no control over Georgia Secretary of State processing times.
The processing times specified on this web page are the times it
usually takes the Georgia Secretary of State to process
orders for Certified Copies of Business Documents.
How much does it cost to get a Georgia Certified Copy Online?
explain
The GA Secretary of State 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 Georgia Certified Copies in 2 business days with our standard processing.
With our expedited processing option we can usually get your Georgia Certified Copies within Same Day*.
Can you get copies of my Georgia Birth Certificate or Marriage License?
explain
No. We cannot get copies of vital records such as Georgia Birth Certificates or Marriage Licenses.
For those kinds of documents you will have to contact the County Clerk in the Georgia County in which the Documents were issued.
How can I order Georgia Certified Copies of Business Documents online?
If you are ready to order Georgia Certified Copies online now just fill in the form below and click Place Order.
As soon as we receive your order for Georgia Certified Copies we will start processing it immediately.
GEORGIA CERTIFIED COPY ORDER FORM