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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.  That document is issued by 
the Alabama Department of Revenue and can be ordered on that 
website at www.ador.alabama.gov under E-Services. 

INSTRUCTIONS             TO     OBTAIN  INFORMATION                     TO
COMPLETE THIS FORM:             You may obtain the Entity ID Number                       (For SOS Office Use Only)
on  our  website  at www.sos.alabama.gov  under  the  Government 
Records  tab.    Click  on  Business  Entity  Records,  click  on  Entity  Name,  type  the  registered  name  of  the  entity  in  the 
appropriate box, and enter.  The six (6) digit number containing a dash to the left of the name is the entity ID number 
(item 1 below).  If you click on that number, you can view the Business Entity Details page to determine that you have 
located the correct entity.   TIP: Print out the BE Details for your records, you will need this information for any request 
of the Secretary of State’s Office, and to file Business Privilege Tax Returns. 

Fees & Delivery Instructions are on page two (2) of this form.  Mail two (2) copies of this form if you wish to 
receive a receipt with your certificate and are paying by check or money order.  Credit card processing provides a 
separate receipt so the additional copy is not necessary.  Please do not send cash in the mail. 

                                  This form must be typed or laser printed 
                                  and will not be accepted via fax or email. 

1. Alabama Entity ID Number (Format: 000-000):                         -
Check the BE Details page to make certain that you have the correct entity (i.e. name, address, type of entity, and
owner/incorporator, etc.) – this verification step is strongly recommended  - your request will be processed based on
the number you provide and there will be no refund if you select the wrong entity number.

2. Service Requested (check one):        $10.00 standard processing 

                                         $25.00 expedited processing 

3. 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 fax or 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 airbill with the billing information 
completed with no use of the Secretary of State’s Office address and clearly marked “bill recipient.” Airbills showing 
SOS address will be discarded since it has caused billing problems in the past and regular USPS will be used. 

Application for COE –    6/201ϲ                                                           Page of       1 2



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APPLICATION  FOR  CERTIFICATE  OF  EXISTENCE OF  REGISTERED  ENTITIES 

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: 

Prepaid Account Option: 

Name of Account:                                                        Acct. Number: 

Authorized Signature: 

                                 FEES & DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS 

Standard Processing: The fee is $10.00 for all entity types.   All applications will be processed in the order in which they are 
received unless expedited processing is specifically requested.  Fees for expedited processing must accompany the initial request. 
Processing time is dependent on the volume of applications received and cannot be estimated or guaranteed. 

Expedited Processing Fee:  The $25.00 expedited processing fee ensures that the application will be processed and mailed within 
 approximately twenty four (24) hours of receipt of  the application.   

 Immediate Processing:  You may acquire a Certificate of Existence online at www.sos.alabama.gov under the Business Services tab 
 and either the Online Services link under Business Entities or the Certificate of Existence link in the Quick Links box.  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.  Due to volume, we are unable to receipt for standard mail.  If you need a receipt that your 
 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, 770 
 Washington Avenue, Suite580,Montgomery, Alabama, 36104.  Please use this address only for courier, the PO Box address is a more 
 secure method of delivery for regular mail.   

 Telephone/Fax/Email Request: Applications for Certificate of Existence are only accepted via mail, courier, or electronic online 
 processing.  Telephone, fax or email applications will not be processed. 

Application for COE –      6/201 ϲ                                                                                    Page 2      of2






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