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How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Montana

Montana calls it the Certificate of Existence and charges $5. Here is how to order it and what must be current first.

At a glance

Document name
Certificate of Existence
State fee
$5
Online ordering
Yes
Typical turnaround
Online: immediate through ePass Montana. Expedited $20
Issuing office
Montana SOS ↗

How to order it

  1. Clear any past-due filings first. The Montana SOS will not issue a certificate while you have unpaid tax or an unfiled report. The state-specific requirements are in the points below.
  2. Order it online. Search your LLC in the Montana portal, request the certificate, and download it. Link in the table above.
  3. Pay the $5 fee. Pay by card at checkout. A small card surcharge usually applies.
  4. Use it inside the recipient's window. The certificate has no state expiration, but banks and other states usually want one dated within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to when you need it.
Full ordering details for Montana

Montana uses Certificate of Existence (for domestic) and Certificate of Authority (for foreign). Order online through the Montana SOS ePass portal. Fee is $5 standard or $20 expedited. Certificate of Fact (for a specific requested fact) is $15.

Processing and expedited tiers: Online: immediate through ePass Montana. Expedited $20

Important to know about Montana

  • Montana annual report ($20, due April 15) must be current. Missing April 15 adds a $15 late fee and leads to loss of good standing.
  • The Montana SOS Certificate of Existence explicitly states it cannot certify whether state taxes are current. For tax compliance, contact the Montana Department of Revenue separately.
  • Montana has one of the cheapest certificate fees in the country, but no physical certified paper copy option - only the online PDF.

Ordering this to register in another state?

A certificate of good standing is what a new state asks for when you register your Montana LLC to do business there. Start with the guide for where you are expanding.

Montana foreign LLC guide · Foreign qualification by state

Related guides

This page provides general information based on publicly available Montana Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Names, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Montana SOS before ordering.