Certificate of Publication vs Good Standing in NY (2026)

A Certificate of Publication and a Certificate of Good Standing are two different documents that serve different purposes for your New York LLC. The Certificate of Publication (form DOS-1708) is a one-time filing that proves you completed the newspaper publication requirement under Section 206 of the NY LLC Law. A Certificate of Good Standing (officially called a "Certificate of Status" in New York) is an on-demand document from the Department of State confirming your LLC exists and is in compliance. You typically need the Certificate of Publication filed before you can obtain a clean Certificate of Good Standing.

Key Takeaways

• The Certificate of Publication proves you completed the six-week newspaper publication requirement. You file it once with the NY Department of State for a $50 fee.
• The Certificate of Good Standing (called "Certificate of Status" in NY) confirms your LLC exists and is compliant. You request it from DOS for $25 whenever you need it.
• Publication comes first. If you have not filed your Certificate of Publication, your LLC's authority to do business may be suspended, which can prevent you from receiving a clean Certificate of Good Standing.
• Beyond publication, Good Standing also requires filing biennial statements and keeping other compliance obligations current.
• Banks, investors, landlords, and other states typically require a Certificate of Good Standing that is dated within 30 to 90 days.

What Is a Certificate of Publication

After you form your LLC, New York requires you to publish a notice in two newspapers — one daily and one weekly — designated by your County Clerk. The notice must run once per week for six consecutive weeks. Once publication is complete, the newspapers provide you with affidavits of publication. You then submit the Certificate of Publication (form DOS-1708) along with both affidavits and a $50 filing fee to the Department of State.

This must be completed within 120 days of your LLC's formation date. If you miss the deadline, your LLC's authority to do business is suspended until you cure the requirement.

You file this document once. After DOS accepts it, the publication requirement is permanently satisfied for your LLC. You do not need to renew it.

What Is a Certificate of Good Standing

New York officially calls this a "Certificate of Status." It serves the same purpose as what other states call a "Certificate of Good Standing" or "Certificate of Existence." You request it from the NY Department of State by submitting a written request with a $25 fee.

To receive a clean Certificate of Status (one that says your LLC is "in good standing"), your LLC must be in compliance with all state requirements. This generally includes:

• Publication requirement — Your Certificate of Publication must be on file
• Biennial statements — Filed every two years with DOS (form DOS-1336, $9 fee)
• No outstanding fees or penalties — All filing fees must be current

If any of these obligations are unmet, your Certificate of Status may reflect that your LLC is not in compliance.

Key Differences at a Glance

Why You Need the Certificate of Publication Before Good Standing

Here is the typical compliance path for a new NY LLC:

1. File Articles of Organization with the NY Department of State
2. Publish in two designated newspapers for six consecutive weeks
3. Collect affidavits from both newspapers
4. File the Certificate of Publication (DOS-1708) with DOS within 120 days
5. File biennial statements every two years
6. Request Certificate of Status (Good Standing) whenever needed

The Certificate of Publication is the bottleneck. Without it, your LLC's authority to do business is suspended under Section 206, and DOS generally will not issue a clean Certificate of Status until that compliance issue is resolved.

When You Need a Certificate of Good Standing

Unlike the Certificate of Publication (which you file once and forget), the Certificate of Good Standing is something you request each time someone asks for it. Common situations include:

• Opening a business bank account — Most banks require proof your LLC is in good standing before opening an account
• Applying for business loans or investor funding — Lenders and investors verify your LLC's compliance
• Foreign qualification — When registering your NY LLC to do business in another state, that state typically requires a current Certificate of Good Standing from New York
• Signing commercial leases — Landlords for commercial spaces often require good standing confirmation
• Government contracts and licensing — Many agencies require proof of good standing as part of their application process
• Business acquisitions or partnerships — Due diligence commonly includes verifying good standing

Most requesting parties require the certificate to be dated within 30 to 90 days, so you cannot use an old one. Plan ahead — routine processing from DOS takes approximately two weeks.

How to Get Each Document

Getting a Certificate of Publication

1. Complete publication — Run your notice in two designated newspapers for six consecutive weeks
2. Collect affidavits — Each newspaper provides an affidavit of publication after the run completes
3. Complete DOS-1708 — Fill out the Certificate of Publication form
4. Mail to DOS — Send the form, both affidavits, and a $50 check payable to "Department of State" to:

NY Department of State, Division of Corporations, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231

5. Wait for processing — Routine processing takes approximately 4-6 weeks

Use our pre-filing checklist to make sure everything is complete before mailing.

Getting a Certificate of Good Standing (Status)

1. Verify compliance — Confirm your Certificate of Publication is filed, biennial statements are current, and no fees are outstanding
2. Prepare a written request that includes:
   • Your LLC's exact legal name (as filed with DOS)
   • Your LLC's DOS filing number (from your formation receipt)
   • The type of certificate you need ("Certificate of Status")
   • Your return mailing address and phone number
3. Include a $25 check payable to "Department of State"
4. Mail to DOS at the same Albany address listed above
5. Wait for processing — Routine processing takes approximately two weeks

Expedited options: DOS offers expedited processing for an additional fee. Check the DOS LLC page for current expedited processing options and fees.

Common Mistakes LLC Owners Make

1. Confusing the two documents. The Certificate of Publication proves you published. The Certificate of Good Standing (Status) proves overall compliance. They serve different purposes and are obtained through different processes.

2. Assuming publication equals good standing. Filing your Certificate of Publication is necessary but not sufficient. You also need to file biennial statements and stay current on all DOS obligations.

3. Waiting until someone asks for Good Standing to start publishing. Publication takes a minimum of six weeks for the newspaper run, plus processing time for affidavits and the DOS filing. If a bank needs your Good Standing certificate next week, you cannot rush through the publication process. Start publishing immediately after forming your LLC.

4. Not checking the 120-day deadline. The 120-day deadline starts from your LLC's formation date, not from when you start publishing. Many LLC owners discover the requirement late and have to rush — or end up with a suspended LLC.

5. Requesting Good Standing with outstanding compliance issues. Before requesting a Certificate of Status, verify that all requirements are met. If your biennial statement is overdue or your publication is incomplete, the certificate will reflect noncompliance.

How LLC Publishers Helps

LLC Publishers handles the entire Certificate of Publication process for you — clearing the path to Good Standing. Here is what we do:

• Verify your county designation with the County Clerk
• Select and contact the designated newspapers in your county
• Draft and place your publication notice with the correct required content
• Monitor the six-week publication run to ensure consecutive weeks
• Collect both affidavits of publication from the newspapers
• Prepare and file the Certificate of Publication (DOS-1708) with the Department of State
• Deliver your filed certificate once DOS processes it

We have processed LLC publications across all 62 New York counties, handling everything from newspaper placement through state filing. Our flat, one-time fee covers the entire process — no hidden costs, no recurring charges. If we cannot complete your publication for any reason, you get a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

How We Maintain This Data

This article reflects current New York State law as of February 2026. Our information is based on:

• Section 206 of the NY LLC Law — the statutory basis for the publication requirement
• NY Department of State LLC resources — official forms, filing instructions, and fee schedules
• Certificate of Publication form (DOS-1708) — the official filing form

Last verified: February 2026

LLC Publishers is not a law firm and provides LLC publication filing services. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal questions about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.