How to Look Up an LLC in Delaware (2026)
Delaware's Division of Corporations posts a free LLC search database directly on its website, and that is where every lookup should start. Type in the company name or its file number and the system pulls up any matching record. A free result confirms the entity is on file, but it does not confirm current status.
Delaware charges a fee for anything beyond that free lookup, whether it is a live status check or a document you can hand to a bank or another state. This guide walks through every method, what each one actually tells you, and how to reach the Division of Corporations directly.
Quick Summary
- The Division of Corporations runs Delaware's official LLC search tools. The basic name lookup is free of charge.
- A free result does not confirm current standing. Confirming an active status takes a separate paid tool.
- You can also reach the Division by phone, email or an in-person appointment if the online tools do not answer your question.
Delaware LLC Search Methods and What They Cost
Delaware keeps its LLC and corporation records in one place, the Division of Corporations. The table below shows the three ways to check on an entity, from a free lookup to a certified document.
| Search Method | What to Enter | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free entity search | Entity name or Delaware file number | General lookups and confirming an entity is on file |
| Corporate Status Online (paid) | Entity name or file number, plus a card payment | Checking franchise tax and filing history without a certificate |
| Certified Certificate of Status | A written request with entity name, file number and payment | Proof of good standing for lenders, buyers or other states |
1. Search the Free Entity Database
Open the Division's Search for a Business Entity tool and type in the LLC's name, or its file number if you already have it. The system returns the entity name, file number, formation date, registered agent's name and address, and a phone number, all free of charge.
The Division's own search page warns that results include both active and inactive entities. A listing "is not an indication of the current status of an entity," in the state's own wording. A free hit only tells you the name is on file. It does not confirm good standing today.
2. Check Current Status Online for a Fee
If you need to know whether an LLC is active right now, use Corporate Status Online instead of the free search. A basic status check costs $10 per entity. Paying $20 adds the current franchise tax assessment and filing history [1].
This tool is not a certified document, though it works well for a quick internal check before you sign a contract. A bank or another state's filing office will usually want a certified certificate instead.
Certificates and Contacting the Division Directly
3. Order a Certified Certificate of Status
A certified Certificate of Status is the document lenders, buyers and other states actually accept as proof. The short form costs $50 and lists the entity's name and status as of the issue date. The Long Form Certificate of Good Standing costs $175 and adds the entity's full filing history and any name changes.
Order one through the Document Filing and Certificate Request Service. Or mail a written request with your name, address, phone number and payment to the Division. A certified copy of the filed document itself costs extra, on top of the certificate fee.
4. Contact the Division Directly
Call (302) 739-3073 and select option 2 for general entity questions, option 3 for franchise tax or option 4 for UCC filings. Operators are available 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays [2]. The Division does not give out entity filing history over the phone.
You can also email corp@delaware.gov, or book an in-person appointment by calling (302) 739-3077. Mail written requests to Division of Corporations, PO Box 898, Dover, DE 19903.
Reasons to Search Before You File or Sign
A search before you file or sign protects you. It can stop a rejected filing, and it can catch a registered agent that no longer represents a company.
- Confirm your name is open before you file: use the Division's Check Entity Name Availability tool, not the general search, so a taken name does not cost you a second filing fee.
- Confirm active status before you sign: a paid status check shows whether an LLC is active. Run it before you extend credit, sign a lease or take a job from that company.
- Check a registered agent before serving legal papers: the free search lists the agent's current name and address. That matters if you need to deliver a legal notice.
If your own LLC's registered agent service in Delaware needs to change, confirm the current record first. That way the update matches what the state already has on file. Before you form a new LLC in Delaware, a free name search also tells you whether your first choice is still open.
Every state runs its own version of this free-search-then-paid-certificate setup. Start at our how to look up an LLC hub first if the company on your list was formed outside Delaware.
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Look Up a Delaware LLC Name?
It costs $0 to search a Delaware LLC name through the free entity database. Checking current status runs $10 or $20, and a certified document runs $50 and up.
What Is the Difference Between the Free Search and the Name Availability Check?
The free entity search looks up LLCs already on file, while a separate Check Entity Name Availability tool tells you if a new name is still open. File your paperwork only after that second tool confirms the name is open.
Does a Delaware LLC Search Show If the Company Is in Good Standing?
No, the free entity search does not confirm good standing. A paid status check or a certified Certificate of Status confirms that instead.
How Do I Find the Registered Agent for a Delaware LLC?
You can find the registered agent for a Delaware LLC through the free entity search. The result includes the agent's current name and its Delaware address.
Can I Get a Certified Certificate of Good Standing for a Delaware LLC?
Yes, Delaware issues a certified Certificate of Good Standing for any active LLC on request. The long form runs $175 and lists the entity's full filing history.
References:
- https://corp.delaware.gov/directweb/
- https://corp.delaware.gov/contact/
