A South Dakota Certified Copy is a copy of a Business Document which includes an endorsement with an accompanying certificate or Seal of the South Dakota Secretary of State which states it is a true copy of the Business Document.  A Certified Copy of a South Dakota Business Document also includes the date that the Document was Certified by the South Dakota Secretary of State.  A South Dakota Certified Copy of a Business Document is normally a photocopy.

A South Dakota Certified Copy bears the signature of a representative of the SD Secretary of State. 

When the South Dakota Secretary of State issues a Certified Copy of a Corporate Document, this means that the South Dakota Certified Copy is a true, accurate and valid copy of the SD Corporate Document that the Secretary of State has on file.

A Plain Copy of a South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota Certified Copy of your Business Documents:

• Bank loans
• Tax filings
• Foreign Business qualification
• Replace original SD Business Documents
• Provide legal proof of South Dakota Business Registration

If you are responsible for the Business records of a South Dakota Corporation or a South Dakota 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 South Dakota Secretary of State issues a Good Standing Certificate to South Dakota Corporations and LLCs which are up to date with all administrative requirements.

The South Dakota Secretary of State will Certify any Business Document which has been filed with that office.  On the other hand, the South Dakota Secretary of State generally does not Certify Documents which are issued by that office.

So, no the South Dakota Secretary of State 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 South Dakota wants to do business in California.  The South Dakota 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 South Dakota Certified Copies within 10-15 business days for $45.00 plus state Document fees.

If you need your South Dakota Certified Copies quicker we can usually get them from the South Dakota Secretary of State within 3-5 business days for $114.00 plus state Document fees.  (Our expedited processing fee also includes any additional state fees for their expedited process.)

Depending on the Document, the South Dakota Secretary of State 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 South Dakota Secretary of State.  We get your South Dakota Certified Copies order to the SD Secretary of State ASAP.  Once it is at the state we have no control over South Dakota Secretary of State processing times.

The processing times specified on this web page are the times it usually takes the South Dakota Secretary of State to process orders for Certified Copies of Business Documents. 

The total cost of South Dakota Certified Copies depends on the total number of pages in the Business Documents that are to be Certified.  The SD Secretary of State charges $20.00 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 South Dakota Business Documents.

We charge a processing fee of $45.00 for our standard processing.  We can usually get your South Dakota Certified Copies in 10-15 business days with our standard processing.  With our expedited processing option we can usually get your South Dakota Certified Copies

If you are ready to order South Dakota Certified Copies online now just fill in the form below and click Place Order.  As soon as we receive your order for South Dakota 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 South Dakota Secretary of State.  It is not for vital records such as birth certificates or marriage licenses.