What Is a Washington Certificate of Good Standing?
A Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) is an official document issued by the Washington Secretary of State. It provides legal proof of several facts relevant to a particular business, such as:
- The date the business was formed
- The duration of the business (e.g., “Perpetual”)
- The active status of the business (i.e., it has not been nor is in the process of being legally dissolved)
- The business’s compliance with fees and filing requirements
At the bottom of a Washington Certificate of Existence is the date of issuance, the signature of the Secretary of State, and the official state seal.
A Washington Certificate of Good Standing (CGS)/Certificate of Existence is frequently required for certain business-to-business (B2B) transactions, as it provides legal proof of a company’s right to conduct operations in the state.
