The sender is not clearly a government agency.
Certificate of existence notice
Certificate of Existence Notice: Real Fee or Solicitation?
A certificate of existence can be a real business document, but a notice asking you to pay for one may still be a private solicitation or paid service. Before you pay, check the sender, fee, and official source.
Review your notice before you pay - $29
FilingGuard is not a government agency and does not provide legal advice.
Quick source check
Sender
Who is asking for payment?
Certificate
What document is being offered?
Fee
Does the amount match the official source?
Payment path
Where would your money go?
Official source
Can you verify it independently?
Why certificate of existence notices can be confusing
A real certificate can still be referenced in a confusing notice.
A certificate of existence can be a real document issued by a state business filing office. It may be used to show that a business exists or is recognized in state records.
Businesses may be asked for one by banks, lenders, licensing offices, clients, investors, vendors, or other third parties. But not every notice offering a certificate of existence is from the official state source.
Some third-party mailers or services may use official-looking language around certificates, filings, compliance, records, or deadlines. A notice may reference a real document while still being a private solicitation or paid service.
The safest move is to verify through the official state business filing website before paying. Similar documents may be called a certificate of status, certificate of good standing, or good-standing certificate. The official source may be called the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, Department of State, or state business registry, depending on the state.
Related guides: If your notice says certificate of good standing, read the certificate of good standing notice guide. If it is about an annual report filing, read the annual report filing notice guide.
Warning signs
Details worth checking before money leaves.
One signal does not prove a notice is bad. Several together are a reason to pause and verify.
The notice asks you to pay for a certificate that you did not request.
The payment destination is a private company, private website, QR code, phone number, or mailing address.
The notice uses official-looking certificate, compliance, deadline, or final-notice language.
The notice says it is not affiliated with a government agency in small print.
The amount requested is higher than, or hard to compare with, the official source.
The notice offers to obtain, prepare, or rush a certificate you can verify directly through the state.
Verify before paying
Use the official source, not the notice, as your starting point.
Treat the notice as something to verify, then compare it against the state source you find independently.
- 01Find your state's official business filing source yourself, such as the Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, Department of State, or state business registry.
- 02Search for your business entity on the official site when available.
- 03Look for the official certificate of existence, certificate of status, or similar certificate process on the state site.
- 04Compare the amount requested against the official source before paying.
- 05Do not use the link, phone number, QR code, or payment address printed on the notice until verified.
- 06Save a copy of the notice and payment request.
FilingGuard review
Want a clearer read before you pay?
Upload the certificate of existence notice, add the visible details, and get a FilingGuard Detailed Review for $29. FilingGuard reviews the notice for warning signs, official-source indicators, payment-path issues, and recommended next steps.
Questions? support@getfilingguard.com
Common questions
Short answers before you decide what to verify next.
Is every certificate of existence notice a scam?
No. Certificates of existence can be real state-issued business documents. The question is whether the notice you received is from the official source or a third-party solicitation.
Can FilingGuard issue my certificate of existence?
No. FilingGuard does not issue certificates, file state documents, or replace the official state process. It provides a plain-English review of the notice and warning signs before you pay.
Should I use the payment link on the notice?
Verify first. Look up the official state business filing website independently before using links, phone numbers, QR codes, or payment addresses shown on a notice.
Is a certificate of existence the same as a certificate of good standing?
Terms vary by state. Similar documents may be called a certificate of existence, certificate of status, certificate of good standing, or good-standing certificate. Verify the wording and process through the official state source.
Final check
Verify the source before you pay.
FilingGuard is not a government agency and does not provide legal advice. Always verify important filings or payments through the official source before paying.