HOW TO GET MARYLAND SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFIED COPIES ONLINE
What is a Certified Copy of a Maryland Business Document?
A
Maryland Certified Copy is a copy of a Business Document which includes an endorsement,
with an accompanying Certificate or Seal, of the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation which states that the document is a true copy of the Business Document originally filed
with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
A Certified Copy of a Maryland Business Document also includes the date that the Document was Certified by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
A
Maryland Certified Copy of a Business Document is normally a photocopy.
A
Maryland Certified Copy bears the signature of a representative of the MD Department of Assessments and Taxation.
When the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation issues a
Certified Copy of a Corporate Document, this means that
the
Maryland Certified Copy is a true, accurate and valid copy of the MD Corporate Document
that the Department of Assessments and Taxation has on file.
A Copy of a Maryland Document which is Certified by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation is legal and official proof that the
Certified Document is authentic.
What is a Plain Copy of a Maryland Business Document?
explain
A Plain Copy of a Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland Business Document?
explain
Some of the reasons why you might need a Maryland Certified Copy of your Business Documents:
- Bank loans
- Tax filings
- Foreign Business qualification
- Replace original MD Business Documents
- Provide legal proof of Maryland Business Registration
If you are responsible for the Business records of a Maryland Corporation or a Maryland 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 Maryland Good Standing Certificate?
explain
The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
issues a Good Standing Certificate ,called a Certificate of Status in MD, to Maryland
Corporations and LLCs which are up to date with all administrative requirements.
The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation will Certify any Business Document which has been
filed with that office.
On the other hand, the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation generally does not Certify Documents which are
issued by that office.
So, no the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation will not Certify a Good Standing Certificate or any other document which is
issued by
that office.
Maryland 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 Maryland wants to do business in California.
The Maryland 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 Maryland Certified Copy of a Business Document?
explain
We can get your Maryland Certified Copies within 7-10 business days for $45.00 plus state Document fees.
If you need your Maryland Certified Copies quicker we can usually get them from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation on the same day that you place your order, if we get your order before noon Maryland time, for $94.00 plus state Document fees.
(Our expedited processing fee also includes any additional state fees for the MD Department of Assessments and Taxation's expedited process.)
Depending on the Document, the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation may take longer to Certify Business Documents filed more than around ten
years in the past.
PLEASE NOTE: If your original documents were filed using the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation web site we can get them for you usually by the next business day.
If your original documents were not filed using the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation web site it will take 7-10 business days to get your Certified Copies.
PLEASE NOTE:
WE CANNOT GUARANTEE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION PROCESSING TIMES
We are dependent on, and have no control over, the staff and systems of the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
We get your Maryland Certified Copies order to the MD Department of Assessments and Taxation as soon as possible after we receive your order.
Once it is at the state we have no control over Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation processing times.
The processing times specified on this web page are the times it
usually takes the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation to process
orders for Certified Copies of Business Documents.
How much does it cost to get a Maryland Certified Copy Online?
explain
The total cost of Maryland Certified Copies depends on the total number of pages in the Business Documents that are to be Certified.
The MD Department of Assessments and Taxation charges $48.00 for up to five (5) pages for Certified Copies of a Business Document.
The additional price per page for each page beyond the fifth page is $1.00 for most Maryland Business Documents.
We charge a processing fee of $45.00 for our standard processing.
We can usually get your Maryland Certified Copies in 7-10 business days with our standard processing.
With our expedited processing option we can usually get your Maryland Certified Copies within next business day*.
Can you get copies of my Maryland Birth Certificate or Marriage License?
explain
No. We cannot get copies of vital records such as Maryland Birth Certificates or Marriage Licenses.
For those kinds of documents you will have to contact the County Clerk in the Maryland County in which the Documents were issued.
How can I order Maryland Certified Copies of Business Documents online?
If you are ready to order Maryland Certified Copies online now just fill in the form below and click Place Order.
As soon as we receive your order for Maryland Certified Copies we will start processing it immediately.
MARYLAND CERTIFIED COPY ORDER FORM