STATE OF ALABAMA 
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF EXISTENCE 
OF REGISTERED ENTITIES 
 
PURPOSE:  to request a Certificate of Existence for an entity indexed 
or registered by the Office of the Alabama Secretary of State.  Only 
one entity’s certificate can be ordered on this form.  Use a separate 
form for each separate Entity Identification (ID) Number. 
 
This is not a Certificate of Compliance (Good Standing) request.  That 
document is issued by the Alabama Department of Revenue and can 
be ordered on their website at 
https://www.alabamainteractive.org/ador_tax_compliance/welcome.action.  
 
INSTRUCTIONS:  Mail one (1) signed original and one (1) copy of 
this completed form along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope                         (For SOS Office Use Only) 
with the filing fee of $25.00 (credit card, check, or money order) to the 
Secretary of State, Business Services, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, Alabama  36103-5616.   
 
                                          This form must be typed 
                                      and will not be accepted via email. 
 
1. Alabama Entity ID Number (Format: 000-000):                         -         INSTRUCTION TO OBTAIN ID 
   NUMBER TO COMPLETE FORM:  If you do not have this number immediately available, you may obtain it on 
   our website at www.sos.alabama.gov  Click Business Services (below picture), click Business Entity Search, search 
   by entity name.  The six (6) digit number containing a dash to the left of the name is the entity ID number.  If you 
   click on that number, you can check the details page to make certain that you have the correct entity – this verification 
   step is strongly recommended.   
    
2. The certificate of existence is to be forwarded to:                                                                                           
                                                                  Name 
    
   Mailing Address/Standard USPS (If the certificate is to be held for pick-up, type HOLD FOR PICK-UP here or it will be mailed.)  Certificates 
   will not be returned via email since they are available online. 
    
All documents are mailed standard USPS unless envelopes with special postage or overnight courier envelopes are 
included with the request.  Any overnight courier envelopes must have a completed air bill with the billing information 
completed with no reference to the Secretary of State’s Office address and clearly marked “bill recipient.” Air bills 
showing SOS address will be discarded and regular USPS will be used. 
 
Credit Card Payment Option:                
 
Card Type:            (Visa, MC, Discover & AmEx) 
 
Card Number:                                                              Expiration Mo/Yr:               /                                      
 
Card Holder Name:                                                                                                                                
        
Complete Billing Address:                                                                                                                        
                                   Street or PO                           City            State           Zip    
 
Signature of Card Holder:                                                                                                                        

Application for COE – 1/2020                                                                  Page  1 of  2
 

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF EXISTENCE OF REGISTERED ENTITIES 
 
Prepaid Account Option: 
 
Name of Account:                                                  Acct. Number:                                                         
 
Authorized Signature:                                                                                                                   
 
                                    FEES & DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS 
 
Standard Processing: The fee is $25.00 for all entity types.   All applications will be processed in the order in which they are 
received. 
 
Immediate Processing:  You may acquire a Certificate of Existence online at www.sos.alabama.gov  Click on Business Services 
(under picture), Scroll down to Certificate of Existence.  The online service must be paid by credit card and is $28.00 for non-
subscribers offering  immediate processing (printed on your computer in your office –  the certificate bears the seal and  an 
authentication number on the face of the document and prints with gold accents on a color printer). 
 
Mailing Address: 
You may mail your request to the Office of the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division/ Business Entities at PO Box 
5616, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5616.  You may use this form to use your Credit Card or prepaid account, or enclose a check or 
money order for payment of the fees.  We are unable to receipt for standard mail.  If you need a receipt that your request Application 
was received you will need to use a courier service or certified/registered mail, requiring a signature. 
 
The overnight courier address is Office of the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division/ Business Entities, RSA Plaza 
Building, 770 Washington Avenue, Suite 580, Montgomery, Alabama, 36104.  Please use this address only for courier, the PO Box 
address is a more secure method of delivery for regular mail.   
 
Applications for Certificate of Existence are only accepted via mail, courier, or electronic online processing.  Telephone or email 
applications will not be processed. 
 
Application for COE – 1/2020                                                                                     Page  2 of  2